Florentino Perez caused a stir by overlooking Cristiano Ronaldo when selecting Real Madrid’s transfer of the century.
Despite Ronaldo’s stellar contributions after joining Manchester United in 2009 for a staggering £80 million, which included two La Liga titles and an impressive four Champions League triumphs, Perez opted for another player for this prestigious title.
According to Toni Kroos’ agent, Volke Struth, Perez attributed the accolade to the German midfielder. Struth shared his admiration for Perez, describing him as both entrepreneurial and humane, and revealed Perez’s reasoning behind naming Kroos as the transfer of the century.
“He is an unbelievably pleasant person with a great life story,” Struth remarked. “He is entrepreneurial but remains human. He explained to me why Toni Kroos is Real Madrid’s transfer of the century.”
Kroos, who joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2014, rejected advances from Manchester United to embark on his journey at the Bernabeu. Over the years, he has amassed an impressive 449 appearances for the club, securing three league titles and four Champions League trophies along the way.
Despite his age of 34, Kroos remains a vital asset in midfield under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti, having featured in 32 matches across all competitions this season.
The acclaim for Kroos’ transfer to Real Madrid isn’t limited to Perez alone. Granada player Gonzalo Villar once lauded the veteran midfielder as “one of the five best midfielders in history,” a testament to Kroos’ enduring impact and legacy at the club.
