Bayern defend Kroos sale

Bayern Munich chairman Karl Hopfner has defended the club’s decision to sell Toni Kroos to Real Madrid, saying the midfielder rejected a new contract.

Toni Kroos: Joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich this summer

Kroos, who was heavily linked with Manchester United earlier this summer, had one year remaining on his contract with the Bundesliga champions prior to the switch.

After failing to agree an extension at the Allianz Arena, the 24-year-old penned a six-year deal with Madrid for an undisclosed fee reported to be in the region of £20million.

Hopfner told kicker-Sportmagazin: "In the case of Kroos, the board of the club has taken the best decision.

"After it had been impossible to sign an extension during the phase of negotiations, the board had to consider the intrinsic value.

"Toni Kroos did not want to sign a new deal, therefore he would have been a Bosman player in 2015.

"Because of this, a departure has been the right solution."

Kroos made 176 appearances in all competitions during his stay at Bayern, helping them lift the Champions League and three Bundesliga titles. He also won the World Cup with Germany this summer.