Toni Kroos has trolled Real Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale over his efforts to use Spanish in a tweet congratulating Lucas Vazquez on the birth of his child.
The Wales international has been with the Blancos since 2013, but has struggled to get to grips with the language barrier at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Over the course of his five years in Madrid, the 28-year-old has rarely endeavoured to carry out press duties in Spanish.
In contrast, an international cast of colleagues have been able to master the language – with German star Kroos among those comfortable outside of his homeland.
Bale has faced criticism for his inability, or reluctance, to master Spanish, with fellow Welshman John Toshack among those to have questioned his effort.
Next Match
The former Blancos boss told Cadena Ser: "He is a different player from his team-mates.
"He doesn't like to speak to the press, and it's very sad that with all the time he has been in Spain, he doesn't know how to speak the language.
"If you are going to play in another country, at least you have the obligation to try.
"People will always think better of you if you make the effort."
Bale did, however, give Spanish a go in a message to Madrid colleague Vazquez, offering him “many congratulations”.
Kroos was, however, quick to offer a response mocking Bale for breaking tradition.
Bale is in high spirits at the moment, though, following a match-winning performance in the Champions League final and took the banter in the manner it was intended.
He responded to Kroos by breaking out some German, saying: “Google Translate is a wonderful thing.”
It remains to be seen whether Bale and Kroos will still be team-mates in 2018-19, with the former having hinted after a stunning brace against Liverpool which secured him a fourth continental crown that he could be heading to pastures new this summer.
