I´ll keep my place if Pogba arrives at Madrid – Kroos

Toni Kroos does not believe he will have any problems keeping his place at Real Madrid even if Paul Pogba arrives at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite being linked with a move away from the club, Kroos signed a contract extension with Madrid until 2023 on Monday.

After finishing 19 points adrift of Barcelona in LaLiga and failing to win another trophy following their FIFA Club World Cup triumph in December, Zinedine Zidane is expected to overhaul the Madrid squad.

Manchester United midfielder Pogba has long since been viewed as a likely target for Madrid and has made no secret of his admiration for Los Blancos.

Madrid are also expected to make a push to sign Eden Hazard, while Kylian Mbappe’s comments that he wants more responsibility either at Paris Saint-Germain or “elsewhere” have fuelled talk of a move for the World Cup winner.

@KMbappe and his #TrophéeUNFP for the #Ligue1 Player of the Year pic.twitter.com/Mfe8ysDTCo

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 19, 2019

Asked about what impact Pogba’s potential arrival could have on his place in the Madrid engine room, Kroos told a media conference: “That doesn’t change anything for me.

“I’ve fought for my place, played well, I don’t think I’ll have any problems to play.

“I don’t know who’s going to go, I don’t know who’s going to come. I’ve spoken to the manager, I know what his idea is. I’m going to be important, I can’t say anything else.

“I don’t know how many changes there are going to be. I’ve never had any doubts about my future. I want to be here always, and I’ve always said that.”

On the subject of the speculation surrounding Mbappe, Kroos said: “I like Mbappe as a player but that question’s not for me really. I can’t buy him, I’ve got a good contract but I can’t buy him. That’s a question for the club.”

Kroos has previously expressed a desire to end his career at Madrid and that seemingly remains his ambition, the Germany midfielder confident he can still produce his best for the length of his new contract.

“Many times, after the game against Ajax for example, I admitted that I wasn’t at my level, I’ve got no problem to say that,” said Kroos.

“I really want to improve how I played but before I played four years consistently well, this year I played worse than the four years before that’s true. I’m still the same player, 29 years of age, and I still have three or four years at the top level I’m sure.

“The idea is to practically finish my career here, at age 38 I don’t think I’ll still be playing. The idea is this will be my last long contract here.”