"Real
Madrid is the most important club in the world," says Kroos, before
adding his thanks to Bayern Munich for the way they supported him
throughout his eight years at the club.
16:27 BST
7/17/14
"I want
to thank you for choosing our club," says Perez, before Kroos gets up
and waves at his adoring fans for the first time. He will speak in
German, but will no doubt have a dig at some Spanish - as is the custom -
before being passed his No. 8 shirt by the president.
16:26 BST
7/17/14
Perez has
to keep stopping mid-speech to allow the fans in the ground to continue
singing their various songs. Those present seem delighted to have the
Germany international on board.
16:25 BST
7/17/14
Again,
Kroos looks a little embarrassed as Perez talks so more about the new
signing's talents. He seems to be wondering what all the fuss is about!
16:23 BST
7/17/14
"He again
showed his quality in Brazil, and he was one of the best players at the
World Cup," says Perez, and Kroos smiles after hearing back a
translation on a headset he has pinned to his right ear. "Toni, Welcome
to Real Madrid," adds the president.
16:20 BST
7/17/14
President
Florentino Perez stands up to speak, and again fans sing his name. He
says it's a moment of great satisfaction to present a player of such
great quality as Toni Kroos, before the very mention of the late Alfredo
Di Steafno's name gets a standing ovation.
16:18 BST
7/17/14
The
Germany star has a slight look of trepidation on his face as he watches
some of those images. Maybe he is not the best at watching himself on
TV, or perhaps he's still taking it in that he's about to hold up the
famous white shirt of Real Madrid.
16:16 BST
7/17/14
A video
of Kroos' finest moments for Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Germany
is played to everybody, reminding them of exactly what they can expect
from the 24-year-old.
16:15 BST
7/17/14
Here he
comes. Kroos, wearing a white shirt with opened collar under a suit
jacket, takes his seat next to Florentino Perez, whose name is chanted
by the crowd outside.
16:14 BST
7/17/14
The
various Madrid directors are taking their seats. Everybody's getting
ready for the arrival of president Florentino Perez and new signing Toni
Kroos.
16:07 BST
7/17/14
It's
noticeable that the posters in the press suite with Kroos' image on show
him wearing Germany's all-white strip rather than Bayern Munich's
Barca-esque red and blue stripes... Funny that!
16:01 BST
7/17/14
Everything
is just about set for the presentation of Toni Kroos now. We are just
awaiting the dignitaries and the player himself now. There are thousands
of supporters in the ground, and a fair percentage of them are waving
hand fans to fight off the intense summer heat of the Spanish capital.
15:55 BST
7/17/14
Pictures of the player hooked up to medical equipment? Check.
Speeches from doctors saying he is in perfect condition? Check.
Next in the tried and tested Real Madrid format is the presentation, along with keepie-ups for the cameras. Then a press conference will follow.
Speeches from doctors saying he is in perfect condition? Check.
Next in the tried and tested Real Madrid format is the presentation, along with keepie-ups for the cameras. Then a press conference will follow.
15:52 BST
7/17/14
We have,
of course, seen all this pomp and circumstance before with many other
Real Madrid signings. Yet there is no quenching the thirst of the club's
fans... They've been congregating outside the Santiago Bernabeu for
much of today in the hope of getting a glimpse of Kroos.
15:48 BST
7/17/14
Kroos has
already been snapped saying hello to his new team-mates and staff at
Ciudad Real Madrid, the club's training facility. Carlo Ancelotti had a
big smile on his face when greeting the German, and why wouldn't he? He
has a wonderful season full of selection dilemmas ahead of him.
15:43 BST
7/17/14
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