
<p>Pep Guardiola, manager of treble champions Manchester City, allegedly has his sights set on Real Madrid senior midfielder Toni Kroos.</p>



<p>Last year, rumors circulated that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/toni-kroos-slams-spanish-talents-saudi-move-as-embarrassing-20230824-WST-451820.html">Kroos</a> was debating whether to retire or continue his career in Madrid. Given that he had already <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/germanys-kroos-retires-from-international-football-20210702-CMS-338720.html">retired from Germany</a> at the international level, this would have hardly been a shocking turn of events.</p>



<p>The 33-year-old player could have left Los Blancos at the end of the season. However, he instead decided to sign a one-year extension in June, making his total time with the club 10 years.</p>



<h2>Kroos is a stalwart in Ancelotti’s side</h2>



<p>Toni Kroos’ play so far this season is proof that you’re never too old to achieve your goals. The German ace has continued his stellar play with the Whites over the last several seasons.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">City to consider move for Madrid Legend 🇩🇪<br><br>Manchester City are keen to sign Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos when his contract expires next summer, with City willing to pay the 33-year-old £13m per season.<a href="https://twitter.com/mundodeportivo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mundodeportivo</a> <a href="https://t.co/3iEZgf8Jhg">pic.twitter.com/3iEZgf8Jhg</a></p>— SPORF (@Sporf) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/1712763685171515806?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Kroos has been a consistent starter for Carlo Ancelotti’s team in recent weeks. Even though younger players like Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga were favored early in the season, he still managed to earn back his place.</p>



<p>It is widely believed that Ancelotti will leave his position at the conclusion of the season, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> have a plethora of talented central midfielders on hand. Therefore, it is not certain whether the veteran will return for an 11th year in the Spanish capital.</p>



<h2>Manchester City want to reunite the midfielder with Guardiola</h2>



<p>It’s possible that this is Kroos’ final year at Santiago Bernabeu. At 38 years old, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/luka-modric-hints-at-january-exit-amid-playing-time-struggles-20231013-WST-462071.html">Luka Modric</a> is being extensively linked with a transfer away from Europe entirely, but it seems that the German still has fans at some of the top clubs in the world.</p>



<p>Reports out of Spain suggest that Pep Guardiola is keeping tabs on the situation. According to Spanish outlets <a href="https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/real-madrid/20231012/1002085711/guardiola-olvida-toni-kroos.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mundo Deportivo</a> and <a href="https://www.defensacentral.com/real_madrid/1696958430-guardiola-va-a-por-su-fichaje-le-da-el-doble-que-florentino-para-quitarselo-al-madrid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Defensa Central</a>, Guardiola remembers the good things about playing with Kroos at Bayern.</p>



<p>They only lasted one season together at the Allianz Arena, with the midfielder getting 51 appearances in that season. Now, the current <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-uefa-champions-league-and-europa-league-on-us-tv-and-internet/">UEFA Champions League</a> winners are apparently willing to give Kroos a $15.7m per season deal, which would make a reunion with his former manager plausible.</p>



<p>IMAGO / Pressinphoto: IMAGO / Pressinphoto</p>


Guardiola planning blockbuster move for Real Madrid midfielder

It has been stated that Manchester City's Pep Guardiola is keen on reuniting with Toni Kroos of Real Madrid

Guardiola planning blockbuster move for Real Madrid midfielder -

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<p>He has a record of 1 goal in every 3 games and has captained his country in a career spanning over a decade and eight different clubs, but this season Manchester City finally brought the very best out of Craig Bellamy. Bellamy has a record of 7 goals in 15 for the Northerners and is in the form of his life.</p>
<p>Whilst playing for his ex Wales teammate Mark Hughes at Eastlands, Bellamy has put in match-winning performances against Arsenal and Sunderland and was also devastating in this season’s unforgettable Manchester derby. Hughes’ abrupt sacking straight after his team’s 4-3 win at home to Sunderland may not benefit certain players such as Bellamy. The Welshman was playing with a freedom which he didn’t have before and Hughes had got the team playing attractive football. With likes of Bellamy, Carlos Tevez and Shaun Wright-Phillips breaking from midfield at extreme velocity feeding Emmanuel Adeabyor upfront, City were a force to be reckoned with. There were suggestions that a number of first team players were unhappy with Hughes’ sacking and that they voiced their complaints afterwards and I for one would not be surprised if Bellamy was in that minority. The good relationship between Bellamy and Hughes is something which shows the beauty of football. So many times we have seen a good on field relationship continue when a player turns to management and this one of them.</p>
<p>Bellamy has exploited his searing pace whilst occasionally playing on the wing this season. His centre forward instincts are an advantage as well as he is rarely caught offside and times his runs to perfection. The dynamic, beautifully weighted passes from Tevez and the shrewd, clever movement from Bellamy had been very productive for Hughes and City this season. Hughes’ side were always potent going forward but of course they were dreadful at the back. For us neutrals however, this means a wealth of goal-mouth action. City have had two 4-2s, two 3-3s and one 4-3 this season. The sky blues have conceded a shocking 9 goals in their last 3 games which is an ominous statistic and makes Hughes’ sacking seem justified. However, City have beaten Arsenal twice this season and are still well in contention for the Champions’ League places, more so than last season anyway. Hughes has a right to feel a little hard done by and had a hard job seeing as he cut his teeth managing at Blackburn, a club with wildly different aspirations to City.</p>
<p>Despite his hoards of technical ability, Bellamy’s negative side is his erratic personality. His former Newcastle manager Bobby Robson described him as “a volatile character.” This season alone the 30 year old has been given a second yellow card and a red for diving, has shoved a camera in the boisterous, yet short-lived elation in the Manchester derby and raised a hand to a Manchester United fan on the pitch after the match. The former West Ham striker is almost unplayable when on form it will be interesting to see how he gels with his new manager Roberto Mancini. Mancini won Serie A three times in a row with Inter Milan in Italy in a defensive league, but he has more experience of managing big players than Hughes, so maybe the supposed love hate relationship Robinho has with City will improve. Mancini has a huge weight on his shoulders from the off and Bellamy will be key to any success the Mancunians have this season.</p>


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Leagues: EPL

Guardiola planning blockbuster move for Real Madrid midfielder

Leagues: EPL

Blossoming Bellamy Excelled Under Hughes