Brazilian has often been involved in various altercations with opposing players, coaches and fans
Toni Kroos says Vinicius’s antics on the pitch could hurt his team and that he should just focus on his football.
The former Real Madrid midfielder said some of his ex-teammate’s reactions could make his team suffer, and that he often tried to calm him down while they played together.
“As a team, you get the impression that everything is working against the group because of what’s happening around him,” said Kroos.
“I’ve tried many times to calm him down on the pitch, especially so he wouldn’t lose his composure, because sometimes that happened. I always told him, ‘You’re so good you don’t need all that’.”
Kroos’s comments come as Vinicius faces scrutiny over his behaviour on the pitch, the latest being his angry reaction to being substituted during last month’s clásico.
The 25-year-old was visibly furious when Xabi Alonso replaced him in the 72nd minute of Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Barcelona on 26 October.
He stormed past Alonso and went straight down the tunnel, later returning to the bench before the final whistle, only to be involved in the face-off between Madrid and Barcelona players after the game.
Vinicius has often been involved in various altercations with opposing players, coaches and fans.
In October, Getafe player Allan Nyom was sent off for a challenge on Vinicius, only 39 seconds after coming on as a substitute. Head coach Jose Bordalas described the decision as “unfair” and said Vinicius’s reaction was exaggerated. Bordalas then complained at full time that the Madrid forward came over to mock him during the game.
“Vinicius came up to me and said, ‘What a good substitution,'” Bordalas said. “I told him to get back on [the pitch].
“I don’t think Vinicius should come over and provoke and say to me, ‘Very good substitution.'”
Kroos said: “At that time [while still at Madrid], I told him many times that he’d had enough, because you get the feeling that, due to his behaviour, the team ends up suffering.
“It’s understandable that he might annoy an opponent, a referee, or the crowd.”
