Toni Kroos has responded to claims made by former Bayer Munich president Uli Hoeness that he no longer suits the modern game.
Hoeness launched an attack on the Real Madrid midfielder on the back of Germany's early exit from Euro 2020, suggesting that he played a large role in the team's below-par tournament.
Kroos announced his retirement from international football in the days following Germany's defeat to the Three Lions, prompting a strong reaction from Hoeness.
The former Bayern president told Sport1: “The first two games in the World Cup qualifiers were pretty decent with a back four, then he changed to a back three, it was completely unnecessary. Why?
"If we had played with Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Thomas Müller in midfield, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane on the wings and Kai Havertz upfront, we would be in a completely different position today. I'm 100% sure of that.
He added: “I like Kroos, he showed world-class performances in the past. He was great for Bayern - but his way of playing is completely done. He no longer fits with today's football.
“We are 1-0 down against England in the last quarter of an hour, Kroos no longer crossed the halfway line. He played sideways, then sideways again, until the opposing defence had organised themselves.
“Bayern players are super self-confident guys who had a big say with Hansi Flick. I know they were totally unhappy with the situation, with Low's tactics. Yet they accepted it. I don't understand, I didn't know them like that.
“They should have said ‘Toni Kroos no longer fits into this football with his sideways game. Our football is played vertically. The ball is played forward all the time’."
His words have not gone unnoticed by Kroos himself, however, as he hit back at the former Bayern chief.
How do you view Kroos as a player? Comment below.
"Uli Hoeneß is a man with great knowledge of football (even if it wasn't enough for RTL), little interest in polemics and completely at peace with himself. Similar to his greenkeeper," tweeted the 31-year-old.
The final part of his tweet was in reference to comments made by Hoeness about Lothar Matthaus back in 2002, when he said the Germany legend would never return to Bayern as long as he was in charge, even as a greenkeeper.
Kroos spent seven years as a Bayern player between 2007 and 2014, during which time Hoeness served as a key figure in the club's hierarchy.
