Angelo Stiller, the Kroos clone who drives Rüdiger crazy: “I’m a fan of his, he can do anything.”
This is how the Stuttgart star plays, who is in Real Madrid’s sights to become Alonso’s ‘Xabi’.
At Real Madrid , more and more paths are leading to Angelo Stiller (Munich, 4-4-2001) . Some in Stuttgart have already written him off. “We’re staying, I don’t know about him. Go Madrid,” joked Deniz Undav , in the midst of the German Cup celebrations .
He has no shortage of supporters. There were even rumors in Germany that Toni Kroos himself had recommended his signing . MARCA has been unable to confirm this. Stiller is another Real Madrid player who is going crazy: Antonio Rüdiger.
“I’m a big fan of his. I played against him in the Champions League and I particularly liked his calmness on the ball; he didn’t get nervous at all. He has a great future. If injuries allow him to stay fit, he can achieve anything,” Rüdiger emphasizes , speaking of Stiller, a player much loved within the Mannschaft.
I especially liked his calmness with the ball; he didn’t get nervous at all.Antonio Rüdiger
“My style and Kroos’s are similar”
The comparisonThe relationship with Kroos has been growing in recent months . In fact, the nickname “Ugly Kroos” has gone viral . A parallel that makes the Stuttgart boss proud, but one he prefers to avoid. For obvious reasons.
“Nobody can replace Toni Kroos. For me, he’s the best German player of all time . If the national team coach entrusts me with his role, of course I’m happy. It’s true that, in terms of playing style, we’re similar ,” acknowledged Stiller, who was linked with Barcelona during the winter transfer window . “It’s a bad time to worry about this,” he told Bild at the time.
No one can replace Kroos. He’s the best German player of all time.Angelo Stiller
Flick gave him his debut at Bayern
It’s no surprise that Barça wanted him. Flick gave him his debut for Bayern, both in the Cup and the Champions League, in 2020, at the age of 19. “I’m grateful to him for that to this day. Hansi Flick was the coach who gave me my professional debut . I was never angry with him or Bayern; that would have been the wrong attitude. I like the club too much for that,” he admitted to ‘Bild’ when addressing his departure from the Allianz Arena.
I’m grateful to him for that to this day. Hansi Flick was the coach who gave me my professional debut.Angelo Stiller
Now, paradoxically, he could become Alonso’s ‘Xabi’ . The comparison with Kroos, although grandiloquent, is not a bad one. Stiller joined Stuttgart in 2023 for 5.5 million euros. He arrived with his former coach at Hoffenheim, Sebastian Hoeness, Uli’s nephew , and, since then, he has continued to grow until becoming one of the great ‘beacons’ of the Bundesliga.
His performance in the victory in the Cup final against Arminia (2-4) – he gave two assists – was the culmination of a great season that goes beyond the four goals and 11 assists he has registered in 47 matches .
First and foremost, the left-footed Stiller is an excellent passer, both short and long. He is, not in vain, the third player with the most progressive passes – of more than 10 meters towards the opponent’s goal – in the Bundesliga (289), the third, also,who has filtered the most passes to the last third of the field (271) and the tenth who has made the most deliveries inside the area (50).
His finesse in the ball has made him a regular corner taker—though not a regular free kick taker—for Stuttgart. The “composure on the ball” that Rüdiger emphasized is supported by two facts. Stiller is the third-highest player in the Bundesliga with the most contact with the ball (2,781) and has the fourth-highest dribble completion rate in the Bundesliga (66.7%).
In defense, he makes up for his physical deficiencies with positioning. “Angelo contributes a lot . He plays with great control. He’s intelligent in defense and looks for every ball in attack ,” emphasizes Julian Nagelsmann .
That’s, in general terms, Stiller, Stuttgart’s number 6. It’s understandable that he drives Rüdiger crazy, and it’s even logical that he’s being compared to Toni Kroos . He’d also fit in with Xabi Alonso’s footballing acumen . That’s a big deal.
