Spain

Zinedine Zidane Urges Real Madrid To Follow Barcelona’s Philosophy

Zizou has issued a challenge to his former club, asking them to abandon signing overseas stars and focus instead on homegrown talent.

May 6, 2009 8:58:48 AM

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Zinedine Zidane (AFP)

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Zinedine Zidane has remained an avid Real Madrid supporter following his retirement from football in 2006 but even he could not hide his admiration for bitter foes Barcelona.

The Catalans steamrolled past los Blancos in style last weekend in El Clasico and Zidane was suitably impressed with the performance as well as with Pep Guardiola’s charges. And it is that footballing philosophy on and off the pitch that the French legend has urged Madrid to follow.

“Real Madrid should abandon the idea of signing foreign players and look at Barca, their footballing culture as well as their cantera [youth system],” he said in an interview with Canal Plus.

“They have players like Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi who can all do things with the ball and you are incapable of stopping them… even on PlayStation.

“Not even the Real Madrid teams during the Galacticos era can compete with the level shown by Guardiola and his players.

“Madrid need to rediscover this identity with a necessary [squad] clear-out and they need to do it urgently. At Barca, you see the kids of all ages who share the same footballing philosophy and mentality as those in the first team,” he added.

The 36-year-old was then asked to analyse Barcelona’s display at the Bernabeu last Saturday and he replied jokingly, “Lucky Messi was not at his best, otherwise he would have scored four or five himself.

“But in all seriousness, Thierry Henry, Messi and Xavi were all extraordinary,” he stated, before going to conclude that he is optimistic Barca will make it to Rome on May 27 for the Champions League final.

KS Leong, Goal.com