Jose Mourinho has humorously urged FIFA and UEFA to prevent Toni Kroos from retiring following Real Madrid’s latest Champions League victory. The German midfielder played his final game for “Los Blancos” last night, securing his sixth European Cup medal.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid clinched their 15th Champions League title with a thrilling win over Borussia Dortmund in London. Late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr. sealed the victory at Wembley, marking Real Madrid’s sixth Champions League triumph in the last decade.
Toni Kroos, an essential part of Madrid’s midfield since his transfer from Bayern Munich in 2014, appeared emotional during the celebrations. The 34-year-old has announced his retirement from football after the upcoming European Championships. He shared an image of himself with the European Cup trophy on Twitter, which quickly filled with tributes from fans.
Jose Mourinho, who recently signed a deal to become Fenerbahçe’s new coach, served as a pundit for TNT Sports during the game. He jokingly called on football’s governing bodies to intervene and prevent Kroos from retiring. “It should be forbidden. FIFA and UEFA, they have so many rules and decisions. Make a decision and stop the guy from retiring!” Mourinho exclaimed.
Despite Mourinho’s plea, Kroos firmly dismissed any notion of reconsidering his retirement. In an interview with CBS Sports, he stated, “No, it’s done. Once I take a decision, it’s done.”
Kroos has had a remarkable career at Real Madrid, making 464 appearances, scoring 28 goals, and providing 98 assists over a decade. Mourinho was a popular figure at Wembley, with many players from both Madrid and Dortmund eager to interact with the two-time Champions League-winning manager. Notably, Jude Bellingham sought out Mourinho to exchange congratulations and introduce him to his family.
Mourinho graciously met Bellingham’s mother Denise and brother Jobe, even posing for a photo. Later, while reviewing the footage with TNT Sports’ punditry team, co-pundit Rio Ferdinand sparked laughter by revealing, “Did you hear what he just said? His mum has fancied him for years.”
This light-hearted moment added to the celebratory atmosphere as the football world bid farewell to one of its great midfielders and witnessed Mourinho’s charismatic presence off the pitch.
Credit: TalkSport
