Real Madrid: 3 possible No. 10’s for Los Blancos in 2020-2021

Toni Kroos

Finally, Toni Kroos can be part of the solution as Real Madrid’s No. 10, especially if Zidane has to play Isco in a wide role and cannot get Martin Odegaard from Real Sociedad. Between Kroos and Luka Modric, the former was more effective last season, though Modric also posted a strong bounce-back season in 2019-2020.

It’s easy to forget how incredible Kroos was in the Fall when Zidane started using him as a No. 10 again. He hadn’t played that role regularly since being a breakout star at Bayern Munich, so it’s easy to forget that Kroos’ passing skills are also deadly as an attacking playmaker and not just a deep-lying playmaker. Furthermore, he has immense technical quality in front of goal, beyond just his delightful finesse shots from outside the box.

Kroos was extremely unlucky not to have scored more last season, as goalkeepers like Jan Oblak frequently robbed him of classy goals from beyond the blue. The German international led all players in key passes in the Champions League group stages, turning in masterclass after masterclass on the ball.

If Real were to sign Paul Pogba and keep Odegaard at La Real, then Kroos would become an even more appealing No. 10. He’s better at defending as a presser, which also lends itself positively to the attacking midfield role in Madrid.