It was the summer of 2014. 24 year old Toni Kroos had just come off a World Cup win with Germany when Real Madrid swooped in and made him an offer no one could refuse. For just €25M they had signed one of the world’s most talented midfielders, much lower than what he would be worth in today’s market.

Kroos has been with Real Madrid ever since, securing multiple titles and further establishing his legacy as one of the greats of the game. As he celebrates his 33rd birthday, all the Madrid fans across the world are hoping he will agree to a contract extension with the club. For the kind of quality he brings to the team, they know they would be hard-pressed to find a suitable replacement – and at what cost?