BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- 34-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Tony
Kroes (name)
announced on social media that it will be after this year's Europa League
demobilize
.. Spanish outlet relevo reports that Kroos has decided to end his playing career after reconsidering, despite having previously agreed a contract extension in principle with Real Madrid.
According to relevo, the process by which Kroos agreed to a contract extension with Real Madrid is as follows:
contract renewal agreement
: Not long ago, Kroos and Real Madrid agreed on a contract extension in principle. Real Madrid, for their part, suggested that Kroos wait a few more months to see how the season develops further and finalize the extension in the final stages.
reconsider
: Over time, Kroos reconsidered his decision. The idea of leaving gradually occupied his mind, and he ultimately chose the life he had long wanted: to focus on his family away from the high demands of elite soccer.
Kroos' decision to retire was largely based on competitive level and family reasons, which had nothing to do with money. He has always put honor above money and in recent years has turned down several lucrative offers as well as a number of offers encouraging him to continue his career abroad after leaving Real Madrid. None of these offers moved him, as he always wanted to retire at the peak of his career.
Kroos never intended to extend his career into his 40s. He feared that he would fade into the bench and become a rotational player, missing the most important games of the year. Therefore, he chose to retire when he felt he still had a use for it and could still contribute to the team.
Kroos has had a career full of brilliant achievements, including outstanding performances with Real Madrid and the German national team:
Real Madrid (soccer team)
: Kroos has been a central player for Real Madrid since joining the team in 2014, helping the team win multiple Champions League, league and cup titles.
German national team
: Kroos was also a key member of the German national team, winning the 2014 World Cup with the team.
