Real Madrid star Toni Kroos has provided an insight into his emotional state, after taking to the pitch for the final time at the club’s home ground.
Kroos, and Real, marked their return to action a short time ago, in a La Liga meeting with Real Betis.
Though the clash meant little when it comes to the standings in Spain’s top-flight, it was made to be an altogether significant one by the aforementioned Kroos, earlier this week.
As much came upon the German announcing his decision to hang up his boots in the summer.
In turn, tonight’s fixture marked his very last as a player at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Kroos was therefore afforded a fitting farewell tribute by all associated with Real Madrid, with fans, players and coaching staff alike having been left emotional upon the 34-year-old making his way from the pitch inside the closing five minutes.
And yet, Kroos himself managed to keep his emotions in check… until being greeted by his children on the sideline.
Upon witnessing his two sons and daughter, accompanied by their mother, in a flood of tears, the former Bayern Munich man was left visibly shaken.
Drawn on as much during an interview post-match, Kroos, in turn, went as far as to claim that the response of his children ‘destroyed’ him:
“I was trying to be strong but then I saw my children, they were crying… It destroyed me.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
