Toni Kroos says criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo is unfair after revealing his Real Madrid team-mate is “addicted to goals and victories”.
Ronaldo made headlines for the wrong reasons last weekend, when he went ahead with his 30th birthday party celebrations just hours after the humiliating 4-0 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.
Kroos, though, says the Portugal international cops too much flak in the media, claiming that the Ballon d’Or holder is a model professional who helped him to settle at the club when he arrived from Bayern Munich.
“We talked a lot because he speaks good English from his time at Manchester United,” the Germany international Bild am Sonntag.
“I can only say positive things about him. He has a very good character.
“There are certainly many people who would have slackened off after all of the success that Cristiano has enjoyed. But he did not.
“He always wants to win. Cristiano is addicted to goals and victories.”
Kroos also attempted to dispel the perception that there is a growing celebrity culture at Madrid.
“Our coach, Carlo Ancelotti, would never accept that,” the midfielder added. “You would win nothing like that.
“To put it bluntly: with us, nobody takes themselves too seriously. There are no divas. We are a functioning family.
“In the dressing room, there are great people with big hearts and open ears. Nobody here thinks that they can do it all on their own.”