Kroos speaks candidly about life with Vini

True to his straightforward personality, Toni Kroos has once again delivered a headline. In a recent interview, the retired German midfielder opened up about what it was really like to share the pitch with Vinícius Junior during their years together at Real Madrid.

According to Kroos, the Brazilian’s fiery temperament made certain moments hard to manage. The confrontations with rivals, the gestures toward the stands, and the exaggerated reactions to contact were situations that, at times, created discomfort for the team.

“I told him many times that enough was enough, because you get the feeling that, with the way he behaves, the team ends up being harmed,” Kroos admitted.

To him, the emotional storm that sometimes surrounds Vinícius affects not just the opponents or the referee — but the whole squad.

A behavior that impacted the team’s performance

Kroos didn’t stop there. He believes that Vinícius’ attitude occasionally had a direct effect on Real Madrid’s collective performance:

“As a team, you feel like everything turns against the group because of what happens around him.”

The German explained that he often stepped in during games to calm the Brazilian down:

“I tried many times to settle him during matches so he wouldn’t drift away from his own rhythm.”

But above all, Kroos’ frustration came from knowing that Vinícius is brilliant enough to succeed without any of the controversy:

“I always told him: ‘You’re so good that you don’t need any of that.’”

A mix of genius and temperament

For Kroos, playing alongside Vinícius was a constant balance between admiring his extraordinary talent and managing the emotional volatility that accompanies him. The winger’s explosiveness is part of what makes him special — but also part of what can derail him.

A debate that returns to Madrid

Kroos’ comments reopen a question long discussed among fans and analysts:

Is Vinícius Junior primarily a victim of provocation, or is he also contributing to the chaos?

The German didn’t seek controversy — just honesty. And his words once again highlight a reality the club has been aware of for years.