Bengaluru, February 22: Bayern Munich's former sporting director, Matthias Sammer, recently admitted that selling star midfielder Toni Kroos was rather a bad decision taken by the board. Kroos joined Madrid in the summer of 2014 after just one season under Pep Guardiola and having just won the World Cup with Germany in Brazil.

Having made his move to La Liga champions Real Madrid for a now seemingly paltry fee of £24million, Kroos is probably the best bargain for Los Blancos. In his three seasons at Spain's capital, Kroos has been absolutely pivotal in Madrid's success and dominance in La Liga and Europe. Part of the treble-winning squad of Bayern Munich in 2012-13, Kroos regained the Champions League medal in 2016 and retained it in 2017 as Madrid made history by becoming the only team to win back-to-back Champions League titles in the modern era.

"I was sitting on Toni's couch and tried to change his mind," Sammer told Sport Bild.

"I've known him since he was 16, 17. The departure did not shake Bayern, but when you talk about whether it was good or bad to let Toni go, you have to say it was bad, very bad.

"But for Toni's personal development and appreciation, the change was definitely the right one."

The Germany international made his Bayern debut in 2007, claimed nine major trophies and played a pivotal role in the Treble-winning season under Jupp Heynckes in 2012-13. And his departure from Bundesliga has had no effect on his trophies as he has been equally successful with Real Madrid.

Kroos has made 29 appearances in all competitions for Real this season, scoring four times and contributing seven assists. The German international is out injured at the moment and remains a doubt for Real Madrid's second leg clash against Paris-Saint Germain at Parc des Princes.