Real Madrid's Arbeloa asks to 'turn the page' after fight between Valverde and Tchouaméni
Real Madrid's Arbeloa asks to 'turn the page' after Valverde-Tchouaméni fight.
Toni Kroos made comments perceived as a dig at Vinicius Jr., referencing PSG's Ousmane Dembele's substitution during a Champions League match. His remarks sparked debate about player behavior and gestures.
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Toni Kroos appears to aim brutal dig at Real Madrid megastar with PSG reference: âThey start to do bad gesturesâ
Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has sparked fresh debate after making comments that many believe were indirectly aimed at Vinicius Jr.
The German midfielder was discussing the recent Paris Saint-Germain Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, where Ousmane Dembele was substituted in the second half despite scoring the decisive goal that helped PSG reach the final.
Although Dembele had been PSGâs standout player once again, Luis Enrique decided to replace him in the 65th minute after noticing a drop in intensity.
The decision quickly attracted attention because of the way Dembele reacted afterwards.
Rather than showing frustration, the French forward accepted the substitution calmly, shook hands with his manager, and continued encouraging his teammates from the bench throughout the remainder of the match.
Kroos appeared particularly impressed by that reaction and used the moment to highlight what he believes top-level mentality should look like inside elite teams.
Reacting to the incident, the former Real Madrid midfielder was quoted by as saying,
Toni Kroos made comments that many interpreted as a criticism of Vinicius Jr., suggesting players start to exhibit bad gestures.
Ousmane Dembele was substituted in the 65th minute despite scoring the decisive goal, as coach Luis Enrique noticed a drop in his intensity.
Kroos's comments were made in the context of PSG's Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, where Dembele's substitution raised questions about player performance.
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âHe exits the pitch, shakes his coachâs hand and sits on the bench cheering his teammates. There are some counterexamples to this.â
Vinicius did not take his substitution lightly. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The comments immediately led to speculation online because of the similarities many fans drew with Viniciusâ situation at Real Madrid under former manager Xabi Alonso.
Earlier this season, Vinicius was substituted during El Clasico by Alonso, with reports later claiming the relationship between the player and the coach became strained afterwards.
The Brazilianâs reactions during substitutions and moments of frustration have frequently been discussed throughout the campaign.
Kroos then appeared to double down on his point while continuing to praise Dembeleâs attitude from the bench.
âYou look at Ousmane Dembele, and how heâs yelling at his teammates to keep fighting, from the bench.
âThatâs not what 90% of players who think theyâre stars would do. They start to do bad gestures on the pitch, then sit on the bench sulking.â
Although Kroos never directly mentioned Vinicius by name, the context of his comments has already triggered reactions across social media.