UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has denied reports that clubs from the Saudi Pro League such as Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr could feature in future Champions League tournaments.
11.08.2023 - 18:09 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Gerard Pique has been asked for his thoughts on the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate as well as Xavi vs Paul Scholes, having played with all four footballing greats.
The Spaniard is one of the few players to have been teammates of both Messi and Ronaldo. Pique grew up with Messi in the Barcelona academy before returning in 2008 to play with him at the Nou Camp.
In between, he watched Ronaldo plunder 42 goals for United in a single season as they went on to win the Premier League and Champions League. Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for the first time that year.
So, who was better? Pique sided with Messi, despite heaping praise on both players.
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"They are so different," Pique told Rio Ferdinand on FIVE. "I played with Messi since I was 13.
"I remember being at Man United when Messi played his first game against Espanyol. I knew he would be the best player in the world.
"When he arrived in the professional world, he showed what he was capable of. Everyone was surprised but I knew him from the beginning.
"Cristiano is an amazing player, they're on the same level but Leo has a little more talent in terms of being magical. Cristiano is about work and being the best in the gym, on the pitch, trying to overtake everyone, like a machine.
"Leo is like another world for me. He was out of this world."
The same dilemma was posed with Xavi and Scholes, two midfield maestros. Pique struggled to separate the two due to their different passing styles.
"You're putting me in a very difficult position!" Pique joked. "Xavi is the greatest example of Barca-ball, take it, pass it five
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