Toni Kroos has confirmed he agreed a deal to join Manchester United in 2014 before David Moyes was sacked as manager.
Kroos departed Bayern Munich for Real Madrid that summer but the German’s switch to the Santiago Bernabeu was only possible after a proposed move to United fell through following Moyes’ departure.
Speaking on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast, Kroos admitted: “In 2014, before I signed with Real Madrid, I had already agreed to play with Manchester United. That would have been a move from Bayern to United.
“But then they kicked out David Moyes, who I was sitting on my couch with in Munich, and hired Louis van Gaal. Then we both politely declined.”
Kroos worked under Van Gaal at Bayern Munich but reports suggest the pair did not enjoy a strong relationship, leading to the collapse of his move to Old Trafford.
Rumours of a collapsed move for Kroos were first confirmed by Moyes himself in 2018.
“Toni Kroos had agreed to come to Manchester United with me,” Moyes told talkSPORT. “I met him and his wife and we had agreed it all when he was at Bayern.
“But I was only going to get it done before the end of the season, before he joined Real Madrid.”
Kroos went on to make 465 appearances for Madrid over the ten years that followed, winning five Champions League titles.
He announced his decision to retire in July, following Germany’s exit from Euro 2024 after losing to eventual winners Spain in the quarter-final.
What we know
- Kroos had agreed to join Man Utd in 2014 before Real Madrid transfer
- David Moyes’ sacking ultimately saw move collapse
- Retired midfielder opens up on transfer saga.