Blaise Matuidi has stated his belief that his new Juventus team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player on the planet, but asserted in jest that his own World Cup victory trumps the Portugal star's Euros trophy.
Matuidi has enjoyed a dream month, seeing one of the game's greats sign for his club side while also being part of a France squad that went all the way in Russia's showpiece tournament.
Now, having lifted the coveted trophy, the midfielder returns to Turin where he will link up with Ronaldo for pre-season, and the 31-year-old joked that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner should feel privileged.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player on the planet, knowing that he will play with us is great news – especially for him as he gets to share a locker room with a world champion!” Matuidi joked to Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Two years ago he managed to beat me in the final in Paris, but it is also true that the World Cup is worth something more than the European Championship!
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“It was a real surprise. I'm happy with what the team has done, getting him to wear a Juventus shirt... we have the strongest now.”
Matuidi went on to say that his time spent with Juve helped deliver World Cup success for France, and spoke of the similarities between his coaches for both club and country - Massimiliano Allegri and Didier Deschamps, respectively.
“There is a culture of work in Turin that I repeated [in Russia] - the taste for work has given me so much,” he said.
“At Juve there is always the need to be at the highest level and that's what allowed me to push and become a champion.
“[Deschamps and Allegri] are both leaders of men, two people who can lead a team and really manage the group – I'm proud to have been coached by such great people.”