Real Madrid have reportedly tasked club legend Toni Kroos with sounding out Jurgen Klopp about becoming the club's next permanent manager, according to Spanish journalist Joaquin Maroto. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Maroto claimed that Kroos, who is set to rejoin Real Madrid in a sporting director role this summer, is already unofficially attempting to gauge Klopp's interest in the position. The former Liverpool manager is currently employed by Red Bull in a global football role, having left Anfield in 2024 after a trophy-laden nine-year spell.
Maroto stated that Kroos and Klopp are the pairing that most interests the Real Madrid hierarchy. "Madrid need to be certain that Klopp wants to return to the sidelines," Maroto said. "Kroos has been the one sounding out Klopp, to see if Klopp wants to make his return to the Real Madrid bench." According to the report, if Kroos informs president Florentino Perez that Klopp is willing, the club would immediately begin formal efforts to appoint him. Klopp's potential availability is said to be contingent on the Real Madrid job alone, with Maroto adding, "Klopp would only leave his position at Red Bull to coach Real Madrid – he’s not going to leave it for something else."
The managerial situation at the Bernabeu remains fluid, with current coach Carlo Ancelotti's future uncertain following a season where Barcelona are poised to win La Liga. The potential appointment of Kroos to a front-office position is seen as a strategic move to modernize the club's sporting project, and his first major assignment would be to secure a high-profile manager. Klopp's pedigree, built on transformative spells at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool where he won multiple league titles and the Champions League, aligns with Real Madrid's demand for elite, charismatic leadership.
However, conflicting reports from Spain suggest an alternative candidate is emerging. Journalist Miguel Serrano, speaking on Radio Marca, indicated that Jose Mourinho is now the more likely option. Serrano suggested that every day without a positive response from Klopp strengthens Mourinho's candidacy for a sensational return to the club he managed between 2010 and 2013. "I think Real Madrid's coach is going to be Jose Mourinho because every day that goes by without Klopp giving an answer, it is understood that he is not going to want to," Serrano said. His colleague Nacho Pena added that while Madrid has men sounding out Klopp, Mourinho currently represents the best option.
The reported involvement of Toni Kroos adds a fascinating layer to the process, leveraging his relationship with a fellow German and his newly minted influence within the club's structure. For Klopp, the offer would represent a return to the dugout at one of the world's most demanding clubs, following a planned break from the day-to-day intensity of club management. For Real Madrid, securing a manager of Klopp's stature would signal a bold new direction, while a turn to Mourinho would mark a dramatic reunion with a coach familiar with the pressures of the Spanish capital. The final decision is expected to crystallize once the season concludes and Kroos's role is officially confirmed.
