How Toni Kroos Nearly Became a Manchester United Player: The Deal That Slipped Away
How Toni Kroos Nearly Became a Manchester United Player: The Deal That Slipped Away
In 2014, Manchester United was on the verge of securing one of the biggest midfield talents in the world—Toni Kroos. The German maestro, who was a rising star at Bayern Munich, had reportedly agreed to join United under then-manager David Moyes. However, just when the deal seemed to be in its final stages, Moyes’ sacking brought the transfer to a screeching halt. Sitting on his couch, Kroos had already given Moyes his word, and had fate played out differently, Kroos could have been the midfield general at Old Trafford instead of becoming a key figure for Real Madrid.
This transfer saga, which has since become one of the great “what if” stories in football history, still lingers in the minds of Manchester United fans. Here’s a closer look at how it all unraveled.
In 2013, David Moyes inherited a Manchester United squad that had just won the Premier League under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. However, as the new man at the helm, Moyes knew he needed reinforcements, particularly in midfield, where United had struggled for creativity and control in recent years. Players like Paul Scholes had retired, and the aging legs of Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs could no longer dominate games as they once did.
Toni Kroos, at the time a pivotal figure for Bayern Munich, was identified as the ideal candidate to fill that void. His technical abilities, passing range, and footballing intelligence made him the perfect player to rebuild Manchester United’s midfield around. Moyes had reportedly convinced Kroos to join United in one of football’s more informal transfer negotiations—while chatting on the couch.
In a story that has become almost legendary, Moyes and Kroos struck a verbal agreement that would have brought the German to Old Trafford in the summer of 2014. Kroos, trusting in Moyes’ vision for Manchester United, gave his word that he would make the move. It was a gentleman’s agreement, devoid of the paperwork, agent wrangling, and media leaks that often accompany modern transfers.
Moyes’ personal approach to Kroos was a crucial factor. At that time, Kroos was looking for a fresh challenge away from Bayern, and the chance to become a focal point of United’s resurgence under Moyes appealed to him. All signs pointed to the move being a done deal. Little did they know, however, that football’s unpredictability would soon intervene.
Just as United’s plans to land Kroos were gaining momentum, the club’s on-field results were falling apart. Moyes struggled to replicate Ferguson’s success, and Manchester United’s form plummeted during the 2013-14 season. With growing discontent among fans and the board, the club made the tough decision to sack Moyes in April 2014, just months before Kroos was expected to join.
The dismissal of Moyes was a significant blow to the Kroos deal. The midfielder had been sold on the idea of playing under the Scotsman, and with Moyes gone, the move began to unravel. Manchester United’s decision to change managers left Kroos in a state of uncertainty. Without Moyes, there was no longer a clear plan or guarantee of his role in the squad.
With Moyes out of the picture and Manchester United’s future in flux, Real Madrid swooped in to take advantage. The Spanish giants had long admired Kroos, and when they sensed the hesitation from Manchester United, they made their move. Under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid saw Kroos as the perfect fit for their midfield, which already boasted the likes of Luka Modric and Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid offered Kroos not just the chance to compete for trophies but also a clear vision for his role in their team. The allure of playing at the Santiago Bernabéu, combined with United’s managerial uncertainty, was enough to convince Kroos to choose Madrid over Manchester. In the summer of 2014, the German midfielder officially joined Real Madrid for a fee of around £24 million—a bargain in hindsight.
It’s impossible to say for sure how different Manchester United’s trajectory might have been had they secured Toni Kroos in 2014. However, one can imagine the German pulling the strings in midfield, dictating the tempo, and providing the creativity that United sorely lacked in the post-Ferguson era. His ability to control games from deep would have offered United the midfield stability they needed during their tumultuous rebuild.
Instead, Kroos went on to win multiple Champions League titles with Real Madrid, establishing himself as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s search for a midfield general continued, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Fred, and Bruno Fernandes filling the role in various ways, but never quite reaching the level of consistency and control that Kroos could have provided.
The story of Toni Kroos and Manchester United will forever be one of football’s greatest “what ifs.” A verbal agreement made on a couch nearly brought one of the world’s best midfielders to Old Trafford, but the dismissal of David Moyes and the subsequent intervention of Real Madrid changed everything.
For United fans, it’s a reminder of how quickly things can change in football, and how even the best-laid plans can be undone by the chaos of the sport. While Kroos went on to enjoy immense success in Spain, Manchester United can only wonder what might have been if the German had donned their famous red shirt. As they continue to rebuild under new managers and new visions, the ghost of the Kroos deal remains a missed opportunity in the club’s recent history.
