Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has warned Jude Bellingham that his career is just beginning following his mega move to Real Madrid, citing the example of Eden Hazard as evidence that he needs to keep working to be a success at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The German is still going strong at 33-years-old and will play for Los Blancos for at least another season after agreeing a contract extension that will take his time in the Spanish capital to a decade.
In that time, he has lifted the Champions League trophy on four occasions and the La Liga title on three more, and the veteran fired a warning to his replacement after Real Madrid confirmed his 103m euro arrival from Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday morning.
👋 @BellinghamJude
🤍 #HeyJude pic.twitter.com/jluhr0SJdv— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 14, 2023
Kroos pointed to the example of Eden Hazard as proof that a big transfer fee doesn’t guarantee success in the Spanish capital. After arriving from Chelsea in 2019 for a fee of around £125m, Hazard appeared just 76 times in all competitions for Real as injuries and fitness saw the brakes slammed on his career.
Indeed, his spell at the Bernabeu was so bad that the club decided to terminate his contract a year early, leaving the 31-year-old now a free agent and his shirt number has already been given to Vinicius Jr.
On the back of this disaster, Kroos fired a warning to Bellingham not to follow the same path.
The 19-year-old has signed a six year deal with the Spanish side, though his shirt number is yet to be announced and may depend on departures.
