Ancelotti lauds retiring Kroos as Madrid midfielder bows out of Bernabeu

Real Madrid were fortunate to call upon Toni Kroos for a decade, said Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti, after the Germany midfielder bade farewell to a sold-out Santiago Bernabeu.

Veteran Kroos played his final league game for Madrid on Saturday, with a goalless draw against Real Betis hardly befitting of his illustrious time with the LaLiga champions.

The 34-year-old will still have one more appearance to come for Los Blancos in next Saturday s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.

Yet having played for a final occasion at Madrid s storied home ground, Ancelotti was quick to praise Kroos.

One of the greatest, obviously, Ancelotti told a press conference. A very high-quality midfielder, with a fantastic character, with a…