REAL MADRID
Schuster: “Signing Mbappé and losing Kroos will be a problem for Real Madrid”
Carlo Ancelotti will add Mbappé to his squad on a free transfer, but former manager Schuster believes losing Kroos is a huge blow.
Former Real Madrid player and coach Bernd Schuster has never been one to mince his words and has sent out a warning to Carlo Ancelotti ahead of next season. In 2024/25, the Italian will have Kylian Mbappé at his disposal following his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, but won’t be able to call upon Toni Kroos, who will retire after playing for Germany at Euro 2024.
Schuster’s Mbappé-Kroos warning for Ancelotti
Speaking at a charity golf tournament in Mallorca, Schuster was asked his thoughts on what the immediate future holds for Madrid and Barcelona, another of his former teams. And he appears more concerned about the loss of Kroos than he is excited by the arrival of Mbappé.
“Mbappé is coming, but they are going to lose Kroos... everyone is forgetting that’s going to be a problem for Real Madrid. I have doubts about Madrid’s midfield because Kroos was very important in the way he organised the game. Madrid is going to lose a lot without him in terms of making the play.”
“Barcelona’s issue is not the coach”
Schuster also commented on Hansi Flick’s appointment as the manager of Barcelona and hopes his compatriot will be given time to make his mark: “We Germans have always liked Spanish teams, at least in the beginning. Flick is a coach who has already been in charge of a great team, he had an incredible season with Bayern.
“For me, Barcelona’s issue is not the coach. Nobody can fix it if you change every year. It’s a team problem: you have to look for more quality to be able to really fight with those at the top.”
Once he arrives in Madrid, Mbappé will be looking to follow in Schuster’s footsteps in terms of on-field success. The German won two league titles in two years as a player with Los Blancos, having previously lifted the LaLiga trophy just once in eight seasons with Barça.
Schuster also coached Madrid to the championship in his only full season in charge in 2007/08 but endured a tense relationship with the media and was replaced by Juande Ramos after a defeat to Sevilla in December 2008.