Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has shattered any hopes of Manchester United signing Toni Kroos from Real Madrid after responding to comments made from Paul Scholes, Sky Sports reports.

What's the word?

Speculation linking Toni Kroos with Manchester United has risen this week following comments made by Red Devils legend Paul Scholes, who told German outlet Kicker he styled his play on the World Cup winner during the latter stages of his career and believes he'd be the perfect signing for his former club.

27-year-0ld Kroos, Scholes believes, would be the ideal figure in the Manchester United midfield alongside current duo Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera, in a midfield trio that would stand-out as one of the best partnerships in the world.

However, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has ruled-out the chances of a summer transfer taking place as he feels Kroos is certain to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu.

What was said?

Speaking to Sky Sports, Guillem Balague said:

"No, Toni Kroos has all the intention in the world to stay at Madrid."

This comes after Paul Scholes told Kicker of his admiration for Kroos this week, where the former England midfielder commented:

"I really like Toni Kroos. When I came to the end of my career, I watched him closely and tried to play like Kroos."

"I was a rather forward-looking midfielder, but Toni is the best in the world, and Kroos would be perfect next to Pogba and Ander Herrera at United."

Would Kroos fit in?

Manchester United would definitely be pulling off one hell of a coup if they were to lure Toni Kroos to Old Trafford and the German midfielder would slot in perfectly to the Red Devils midfield, just as Paul Scholes stated this week.

However, Kroos is a stand-out player at Real Madrid and an important part of Zinedine Zidane's side too. With midfield partner Luka Modric also not getting any younger, Kroos' importance will grow in the coming years as he'll stand as a role-model to the younger players in the squad.

That said, Real Madrid are well stocked in midfield as they boast the likes of Isco, James Rodriguez, Marco Asensio and Casemiro, amongst others, so Kroos could see opportunities begin to decline as the younger players in the Spanish capital develop- and that may be when an exit occurs.

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