FULL STATEMENT: Real Madrid midfielder Kroos' retirement address

Toni Kroos addressed fans for five minutes to announce his retirement decision.

The Real Madrid midfielder will hang up the boots after he turns out for Germany at the Euros.

Kroos' statement in full reads:

"Well, Madridistas... I want to announce something important about my future. They are not very easy words and I am sure it is a bit difficult for me, but I want you to know and understand that this tenth season with the best club in the world, with Real Madrid, is my last. I think you can tell that this is difficult for me, honestly. But I am convinced that it is the right decision for me. I have thought many times, or many months now, about what to do and the truth is that there are pros and cons, as always, but in the end I am convinced that it is what I want, that I think this is the right decision for me.

"I always had the idea or the objective of ending this club in the best way, it is what the club deserved. This season is one of the best seasons I have played and I think it is a very good time to leave it like this, because I have always wanted that, if in a few years you talk about Toni Kroos, you remember how I was and there I always wanted to be at the top. height of what I have now. I have always said that when I leave Madrid, I leave football, because I have always said that I want to retire here at Real Madrid and this is what is going to happen.

"My last season here also means it's my last season in football, of course. Then I play in the European Championship with Germany, but I have never thought about continuing in another club or changing the club, not in 10 years, not at a time, not now. This is what I want you to know and it is not easy, because people also say that you can easily play for a few more years. And maybe that's the case, but, as I said, I don't want to go to a point where people think why he still plays, he doesn't have a level, I'm on the bench, I don't enjoy it... And I don't want to get there. That's why I want to finish at the best time and the best time is now.

"What I want to say is that I am very grateful for the last 10 years, with the love that you have given me throughout my time here. This has been special, this club is special and its fans are special and that is why I always felt at home, in the club, here in Spain, in Madrid.

"This decision to come to Madrid has changed my life in a very positive way and for that I am very grateful and now I want us to forget everything I have said for the next few days, for the next few weeks, until we have won another title . You know that it is the most important thing for me, to win this title with you, with the club. What I have said for 10 years... Hala Madrid and nothing more!"