Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has fired back at the club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge over suggestions the player’s lifestyle is affecting his form.
Speaking to Sky, the German international suggested Rummenigge speak to him privately.
“I can only laugh about these statements,” he said.
“Next time he can say it personally in my face and then it’s fine.”
Boateng faced the critique after his errors led to Bayern’s shock loss against FC Rostov in the Champions League.
But the defender told German newspaper Bild it his Euro 2016 injury that is keeping him from his best.
“I didn’t play well,” he said.
“Criticism of both the team’s performance and mine is justified, but I’m not yet at 100 percent because of my injury at Euro 2016 which meant an interrupted preseason training.”
The 28-year-old flatly rejected Rummenigge’s suggestion that his charity and marketing work was affecting his mentality.
“It (poor form) is not due to any PR or lifestyle obligations,” Boateng claimed.
“Anyone who knows me will know that I always do everything to reach top form.”
Rummenigge had criticised the centre-back on Sky Deutschland, saying that his private life had “gotten a bit much”.
“He’s got to calm down,” Rummenigge said.
“Since last summer it’s all gotten a bit much. It would be in the interests of him and the club if he came back to earth a little.”
Boateng received the Moses-Mendelssohn Prize in September for his commitment to promoting tolerance.
He also operates a designer glasses label, with American rapper Jay-Z acting as an adviser.
The Berlin-born player has struggled for minutes during the season, with a number of injuries limiting his starts.
Bayern Munich find themselves second in the Bundesliga, with minnows RB Leipzig sitting in top spot.