The 25-year-old has been criticised by many for his antics in Real Madrid’s 2-1 El Clasico win over Barcelona earlier in the season.
Substituted by Xabi Alonso in the second half, Vinucius Jr was visibly furious and appeared to yell at his manager over the decision.
Kroos, who spent six seasons playing alongside Vinícius at Real Madrid, witnessed the Brazilian’s behavior firsthand and spoke about the impact it had on the team.
“At that time, I often told (Vinicius) that enough was enough, because it feels like the whole team is being harmed by his behavior,” Kroos said at an Icon League event.
“It’s understandable that at some point he might be annoying, whether it’s to a player from the opposing team, a referee or the opposing fans. As a team, you get the feeling that everything is now turning against everyone because of him.”
Always known for his composure and leadership on the pitch, Kroos even tried to manage his former teammate’s emotions for the betterment of the club.
“I often tried to calm him down a bit on the field, but mainly to keep him from losing focus, because it sometimes happened. I often told him: ‘Vinícius, you’re so good you don’t need that at all.’”