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Toni Kroos' Brutal Response To Lionel Messi Making Shock Switch From Barcelona To Real Madrid

Toni Kroos' Brutal Response To Lionel Messi Making Shock Switch From Barcelona To Real Madrid

Real Madrid star ​Toni Kroos believes taking Man City target Lionel Messi away from Barcelona "means that Barcelona lacks a total weapon."

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Toni Kroos has dropped a cheeky swipe at Lionel Messi by suggesting that he doesn't have the "cojones" to leave Barcelona for Real Madrid.

The 33-year-old Barcelona superstar sent shockwaves throughout the football world last month after submitting a transfer request.

Messi, whose current deal expires next summer, had a heated public fallout with former Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal in February.

Fast-forward to August and the Barcelona captain witnessed his side suffer a devastating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Messi has already been linked with moves to Manchester City, Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United as Barcelona battle to keep hold of their prized talisman.

Madrid star Kroos has swiftly shut down the idea that Messi would do the unthinkable by leaving the Camp Nou for a move to Los Blancos.

PA
PA

However, the 30-year-old German midfielder didn't stop from taking a dig at the possibility of Messi staying in Spain after a Barca exit.

"I do not think he will come to Real Madrid, if I have to rule it out categorically," Kroos said on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast with his brother Felix.

"To stay in Spain: you need cojones for that. I think hardly anyone in the football world can imagine Barcelona without Messi."

City have reportedly compiled a comprehensive deal to tempt Messi with a Premier League move and reunite him with former Barca boss Pep Guardiola.

PA

However, Barca will not allow the six-time Ballon d'Or winner to leave without a club activating his extraordinary £623m release clause.

La Liga confirmed late last month that Messi's mammoth release clause has not expired, despite his desire to leave the Camp Nou.

Kroos added "that it could most likely be Pep and City" for Messi, but he also pointed out the benefit Madrid would gain from Barcelona losing their superstar captain.

"If one of those players no longer plays in the rival team, one can imagine that we do not consider it as something necessarily bad," the Germany international said.

"Messi away from Barcelona means that Barcelona lacks a total weapon."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Los Blancos, Football News, Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Toni Kroos, Real Madrid, La Liga, Barca