Liverpool star Naby Keita has been likened to Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane by his Guinea boss Didier Six.
Six has made Keita captain of his country despite making just 15 appearances for his club this season.
The 26-year-old has endured another injury-hit campaign, but remains one of Guinea’s most important players as they prepare for international fixtures in March.
MEDIAWATCH: Solskjaer ‘aims dig’ at 2019 version of Solskjaer
Slightly strangely, Six appeared to compare Keita with Zidane as a manager, rather than a player, claiming the way they communicate with the players is similar.
“It’s not about building the team around a specific player,” Six told FIFA.com.
“In my opinion, Keita has magical feet, and I decided to give him the captaincy because he’s a true leader.
“He’s never abrasive with his team-mates. The way he talks to them is very similar to the way Zidane deals with his players, and he communicates the message in a wonderful way.
“When he came back from injury, I gave him two full games in four days and he helped us a lot, like scoring against a strong Mali team in Mali.
“He puts himself at the disposal of the team and his team-mates do all they can to assist him. We always need his magic and battling spirit on the pitch.”
Keita has been struggling along with his Liverpool teammates this season and Sadio Mane has spoken out on a tough time at Anfield.
Mane said: “As a professional footballer it is not easy when you are used to winning every single game like we were used to last year.
“At times it was tough, but not like it is now, which is a really complicated time, but we are more experienced now and we know how to deal with things. You just have to stick together and be as positive as you can.”
Mane added: “Being in the top four right now is our main target, but to win the Champions League is our main, main target. It won’t be easy because we are going to face the best teams in Europe, but we are here to beat the best in the world. We will do everything possible to go for it and to win the Champions League.”
The post Guinea boss makes strange Keita, Zidane comparison appeared first on Football365.