Why Man City would want to sign Toni Kroos

Johan Cruyff was a famously difficult man to please.

Pep Guardiola found that out as an academy player at Barcelona when the legendary Dutchman told the teenage midfielder he was «slower than my granny». However, in the steely gaze of Cruyff, Toni Kroos was considered «nearly perfect» in 2014.

The metronomic passer of Real Madrid is out of contract next summer when he will be 34. Various sources, none of which are particularly concrete, have linked Kroos with a free transfer to Manchester City in 2024.

But why would the treble winners want a player that peaked a decade ago?

Guardiola will be well aware of the myriad of qualities Kroos can bring to a team after a fruitful season coaching the former Germany international at Bayern Munich. The admiration was mutual. «I loved playing for him,» Kroos gushed when reflecting on the 2013/14 campaign, «and could have renewed my contract at Bayern, of course.

»I don’t think it's ever a good idea to sign a deal just because of the manager, however. Pep wanted me to renew but what would have been the point of me signing a five-year deal if the manager was off again soon?"

Kroos admitted that the pair are «still in touch and get on very well», treasuring that campaign «because I learned so much».

Even though a decade has passed, Kroos remains the continent's elite pace-setter and pass-master. Using 's new expected passing model, Kroos led Europe's top five leagues for passes completed above expectation last season. Even deep into his 30s, Kroos would make between four and five more passes than the typical player every game. For comparison, Manchester City's Rodri averaged 2.2 passes above expectation per 90.

This season has been no different. Kroos may have started more than half of