While he is widely regarded as the best player in the world at the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo hasna t been able to convince former Barcelona player Eric Abidal of his talents.
Abidal, who played for Barcelona from 2007 till 2013, feels it is his compatriot Karim Benzema who is actually the most important player at the club. The Frenchman, in fact, believes that if his former club are to make a move for any Madrid player it should be Benzi and not Ronaldo who is the reigning Ballon da Or winner.
“Benzema is the man I’d sign from Madrid if I were at Barca,” he told Gol TV. “Definitely, because for me he is Madrid’s most important player right now.
“If you take Benzema away from Real Madrid then they would continue scoring goals, but not as many as they do with Karim in the team. He’s a very complete player and other players well in Madrid when Karim is there.
“So yes, if I have to sign one person it would be him. And not just because he is my friend and my compatriot, but because of his qualities.”
For the European champions, Benzema has found the net 20 times this season a tally that is second only to Ronaldoa s 41 goals.
Yet, the 27-year-old is often looked upon as the third wheel in a Madrid attack that also features Gareth Bale. Bale and Ronaldo play on either side of Benzema, as he drops deep and feeds the two more fashionable alternatives.
Expectedly, Abidal said that it was his former side who had the advantage going into Sundaya s Classico.
“I think it will finish 3-1 to Barca,” he added. “I think Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will each score, though I’d like Javier Mascherano to get a goal for the club.
“Barca are doing much better than at the start of the season, when they struggled a little bit. Now, in 2015, everything’s looking impressive and hopefully that continues until the end of the season.”
The Frenchman moved to Monaco in 2013 and has subsequently retired.
