Real Madrid nearly missed out on Toni Kroos before Carlo Ancelotti snubbed alternative after telling club the player 'wasn't professional'

Real Madrid could have missed out on signing club legend Toni Kroos if not for Carlo Ancelotti personally standing in.

After nearly a decade long career with Real Madrid that saw him win both La Liga and the Champions League on four occasions, Kroos announced his retirement from football last summer.

“I am happy and proud, that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it by my own," wrote on his Instagram account after announcing his decision.

The German international left Real Madrid as one of the club's best-ever players, making 465 appearances, scoring 28 goals and assisting 99.

But Real Madrid came very close to missing out on signing the midfielder, and would have almost certainly picked another player instead if not for legendary manager Ancelotti.

Toni Kroos left Real Madrid as a club legend. (Credit:Getty)

Back in July 2014, Kroos signed a six-year deal with Real Madrid having joined the club from Bayern Munich as part of a reported €25million (£21.5m) deal.

But in his 2016 autobiography titled 'Quiet Leadership: Winning Hearts, Minds and Matches,' Ancelotti revealed that the Spanish side had offered him another player instead of Kroos.

However, Ancelotti refused, claiming that he did not like the other player and demanding that they should instead sign Kroos.

"I know this other player and he drinks a lot and is not professional." Ancelotti claimed in the book.

Although it is not certain who exactly that Ancelotti is referring to, it has widely been speculated that the other player was Arturo Vidal, who later joined fierce rivals Barcelona in 2018.

Arturo Vidal joined Barcelona in 2018. (Image: Getty)

A February 2014 report from Spanish outlet Marca, via the Daily Mail, claimed that Vidal was on Ancelotti's list of potential transfers heading into the summer window.

It was believed that the Chilean international would have joined in the summer of 2013, but the arrival of Gareth Bale deals for other players led to Madrid cooling their interest.

Once he arrived at Barcelona, signing a three-year deal after the Spanish club agreed a reported €18m (£15.5m) transfer fee, Vidal went on to make 96 appearances for the club before leaving to join Inter Milan in 2020.