Prandelli: Iniesta the best in the world

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has said Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta is the best player in the world.

“Iniesta is undoubtedly the best player in the world,” Prandelli replied.

“He has everything: quality, vision, personality, accuracy. Everywhere he is playing, even though he appears surrounded by several rivals, he plays like he’s at home.”

The future of one of Iniesta teammates for club and country, Carles Puyol, has been a major source of discussion in the past 24 hours after the Barca captain announced he was leaving Camp Nou this summer.

Prandelli compared Puyol to the great defenders of Italy’s past and said he will never be forgotten for what he brought to any team of which he was part.

“Puyol has experience, personality, character and determination. He is a leader and as such will always be remembered,” Prandelli said.

“It happened with [Franco] Baresi, [Paolo] Maldini, [Alessandro] Nesta and [Fabio] Cannavaro.”