Toni Kroos Refuses to Return to Germany: "It's Not the Same Country Anymore"

A Decade in Spain Becomes Home for Kroos

One of the most outstanding midfielders of his generation, Toni Kroos, hung up his boots last summer. The former Germany international spent the majority of his career at Real Madrid, so it’s no surprise that Spain became his second home.

Over his 10 years in southern Europe, Kroos learned the language and built a life there. He has often said that Spain is where he and his family feel most comfortable — not only himself, but also his wife and children. However, when footballers retire, many often move back to their home country. But Kroos has completely rejected that idea.

"Germany Is No Longer Safe" – Kroos Shares Concerns

Last year, during the European Championship, the ex-Real Madrid star appeared on the podcast Lanz und Precht, where he spoke openly about the issue of uncontrolled migration in Germany. In his view, one of the country’s biggest problems in recent years has made it far less safe. Kroos bluntly stated that he does not want to risk his children's lives.

“I still believe Germany is a great country. We love being there, but it's no longer the Germany it used to be, maybe 10 years ago. The feeling of safety is gone. If you asked me where I’d let my daughter walk alone at 11 PM — in Spain or in a major German city — I’d choose Spain,” Kroos said.

Carefully choosing his words, Kroos criticized the German government's refugee policy. While it’s rare in the West for public figures to take such a stance, the footballer did not hesitate to speak out about what he sees as a clear crisis. It’s worth noting that Kroos was extremely respectful in his remarks.

“I think there is a real problem with migration. We showed in 2006 and again recently that our country welcomes people with open arms. And I like that. But I believe that in recent years it’s been happening in a way that’s far too uncontrolled,” he clarified.

The Migration Crisis That Changed Everything

And it’s hard to argue with him. The whole world watched as, starting in 2015, Germany — as the de facto leader of the European Union — took in a massive number of refugees. While the main reason was the war in Syria, people were also arriving from other conflict zones like North Africa and South Asia. The total number of migrants reached into the millions.

Despite reassuring rhetoric from then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, her policy faced fierce backlash. Criticism came from all sides — from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to firmly left-wing politicians like Sahra Wagenknecht.

A Painful Example: The Freiburg Case

In the end, a significant portion of migrants, having received generous welfare benefits, refused to work and were involved in public disorder. Tragically, there were also violent crimes. One of the most shocking cases was the murder of a 19-year-old university student in Freiburg, the daughter of a high-ranking EU official.

A Conscious Choice Not to Return

Although Kroos was living in Spain at the time, he was well aware of what was happening in his homeland and likely received honest feedback from fellow Germans. After weighing all the risks, Toni made the decision not to return to a country he now views as too troubled. And if someone with the means to hire personal security and live in a gated community feels the need to take such drastic measures, what hope is there for ordinary people? It seems the migration issue in Germany is still far from being resolved.

Published by Patrick Jane
06.05.2025