Real Madrid will bid farewell to club legend Toni Kroos after the June 1 Champions League Final against Borussia Dortmund, as Kroos will be cutting his career short early while he is still the absolute best at what he does.
On the pitch, there is no way to directly replace what Kroos has brought to the table for Real Madrid in terms of his technical quality, leadership, range of passing, chance creation, and control of the game.
But someone is going to have to quite literally replace the iconic No. 8 kit of Toni Kroos, and it is almost certainly going to be someone currently getting regular starts for Real Madrid.
Recently, Real Madrid star center midfielder Fede Valverde was asked about the prospect of being the next No. 8, and he was enthusiastic, even responding that he had a conversation with Kroos himself about it:
“The number 8? I would love it. I spoke to Kroos.”
Fede Valverde has been a key player for Real Madrid since the 2019/20 season, breaking out under Zinedine Zidane and never looking back since.
The five million euro transfer bargain from Penarol has improved in each successive season, producing his finest work in the current 2023/24 campaign.
Valverde and Kroos have totally different playing styles, but most No. 8’s aren’t controllers like Kroos. Fede fits the bill as a world-class midfielder who loves Real Madrid and will be a key fixture at the club for years to come.
He would be an excellent choice as the next Real Madrid No. 8.