The former Real Madrid player shared on his Instagram account the video in which Davide Ancelotti was speaking about him.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos is currently living away from the media spotlight, but he is never far from the headlines. The 36-year-old’s legacy remains very much alive in world soccer, both in Germany and at the Bernabéu, where he left an indelible mark. The same is true for the Ancelotti family. Kroos enjoyed a golden era at Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti, something the coach’s son, Davide, witnessed and enjoyed firsthand as assistant to his father. In an interview with AS this week, Davide Ancelotti was full of praise for Kroos, who retired in 2024 after an illustrious, 10-year spell with Los Blancos. “He was the master of the game,” said Ancelotti Jr., who is now the head coach at French club Lille. “That’s such a good way of putting it. He controlled the tempo of the game and made it be played the way he wanted. He was fundamental, and he also covered a lot of ground. “Toni was seven-miles-a-game player, and he defended. I loved him playing as a No. 6. Although he preferred playing as a No. 8 because that meant he could leave the dirty work to the No. 6, whether that was [Eduardo] Camavinga or Casemiro. In terms of how Real Madrid function as a team, losing him has been incredibly difficult.” Davide Ancelotti’s comments about Kroos went viral, so much so that they reached the former Germany international, who shared them on his Instagram account. Kroos posted the quotes on his profile just hours after they appeared in AS, adding a ‘heart emoji’ in a direct message of appreciation to the Italian. Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere. And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.