Real Madrid is advised to target the 'second Toni Kroos' immediately.

Real Madrid is advised to acquire Youri Tielemans, a midfielder considered "complete" and capable of replacing Toni Kroos once the German icon ends his career.

Following the official retirement of legend Toni Kroos in the summer of 2024, Real Madrid faces the challenge of replacing one of the greatest midfielders in the club’s history. However, according to Belgian football experts, Filip Joos, the "Los Blancos" missed the chance to sign a player deemed suitable: Youri Tielemans, Aston Villa’s star whose playing style closely resembles that of Toni Kroos.

Tielemans, now 28, has firmly established himself in the Premier League since joining Leicester City from Monaco in 2019. He became a club icon at the "Foxes" with a memorable goal that helped Leicester defeat Chelsea and lift the FA Cup for the first time in history in 2021. After leaving Leicester in summer 2023, Tielemans surprisingly moved to Aston Villa on a free transfer and quickly proved his worth. In the 2024-25 season, the Belgian midfielder played a key role in helping Villa reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

Comparing Tielemans to Kroos might spark debate, as Kroos is a legend with 22 major titles at Real, including 5 Champions League trophies and 4 La Liga championships. Nevertheless, Belgian football analyst Filip Joos from Play Sports believes this comparison is not exaggerated.

He stated: “If Real Madrid had signed Tielemans immediately after Kroos retired, many issues would have been resolved. I think he is an outstanding player. What impresses me most is his ability to cover the entire pitch, both offensively and defensively. Tielemans has now become a complete midfielder.”

Joos’s opinion gains more significance given Real Madrid’s ongoing midfield rebuild after Kroos’s departure and Luka Modric entering the twilight of his career. Although the club has young talents like Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde, the Royal team still needs an experienced leader with strong match temperament, qualities Tielemans fully possesses.

While Kroos left a hard-to-fill gap, Tielemans, whose playing style is strikingly similar on the field, will be a valuable option for the Spanish giants to consider in the near future.