The Real Madrid icon critiques his former club’s confusing midfield overhaul, slamming recent departures and inconsistent leadership as the German champions drift from their hallmark stability.
Toni Kroos has been watching Bayer Leverkusen from afar, but the former Germany international admits he is struggling to understand some of the decisions being made at his former club.
Kroos spent 18 months at Leverkusen between January 2009 and the summer of 2010, a period in which he established himself as one of German football's most promising young midfielders. More than 15 years after leaving the club, he remains interested in its fortunes. What he has seen recently, however, has left him unconvinced.
Speaking on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen, which he hosts with his brother Felix, Kroos described Leverkusen's transfer window as unusual and questioned the club's handling of its midfield options.
I have to say, I thought Leverkusen's transfer window was strange. The communication was also a bit odd.
Kroos specifically pointed to Robert Andrich, whose future had been uncertain during the summer. The German midfielder had appeared to be moving away from the centre of Leverkusen's plans after losing the captaincy and facing competition for his position. Yet while Andrich remained at the club, Leverkusen allowed Exequiel Palacios to leave for Ipswich Town.
You completely let Rob Andrich go, but at the same time you sell two players for that position. I don't know... So, it's really strange.
There was, however, a slight misunderstanding in Kroos' assessment. Leverkusen did not sell two players who primarily occupied that position. Palacios was the significant departure, while 17-year-old Kennet Eichhorn arrived from Hertha BSC as a long-term midfield addition.
The wider question raised by Kroos remains relevant: what exactly is Leverkusen's plan for Andrich?
The midfielder has been a key figure in the club's recent rise, particularly under Xabi Alonso, and his physical presence and defensive qualities have given Leverkusen a different profile in midfield. Yet the changes around him suggest his importance in the squad is no longer guaranteed.
For Kroos, though, the concern extends beyond individual players.
The former Real Madrid star believes Die Werkself have lost some of the stability and consistency that previously defined the club. The departure of Alonso was followed by a difficult period, with Leverkusen making two coaching changes before turning to Spanish coach Carles Martínez.
I've always had a soft spot for Leverkusen because their style of play has never changed; they've always had a footballing approach. And I like that.
Kroos believes the managerial upheaval was particularly difficult to reconcile with Die Werkself he remembers. During his time at the club, he saw a team that had a clear footballing identity and a relatively stable structure. Recent events, in his view, have moved away from that model.
For me, Leverkusen has always been synonymous with consistency and a certain calmness. It feels like that wise decision-making has been somewhat lost in the last year. I don't think that's a great development.
That makes the coming months particularly important for Martínez. The new coach has inherited a squad that has undergone considerable change and must now establish a clear identity after a turbulent campaign.
Kroos' criticism is therefore less about one transfer than about the direction of the club as a whole. He still retains affection for Leverkusen, but he is watching a club in transition, and one whose recent decisions have left him asking more questions than providing answers.
