Matuidi: ‘CR7 the world’s best’

By Football Italia staff

Juventus' Blaise Matuidi calls Cristiano Ronaldo “the best player on the planet” but jokes “he gets to share the dressing room with a world champion…”

The midfielder helped France to lift the trophy in Moscow at the weekend, and when he gets back to Juventus he’ll be playing with CR7.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player on the planet, knowing that he will play with us is great,” Matuidi told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Of course it is for him too, he gets to share the dressing room with a world champion! Two years ago he managed to beat me in the final in Paris, but it’s true that the World Cup is something more than the European Championship.

“It’s a real surprise, but I’m happy and satisfied with what the club has done. Getting someone like him to wear the Bianconeri shirt… we have the best now.”

Has Matuidi had messages from his Juve teammates since winning the final?

“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing since Sunday! The first ones were Medhi Benatia and Miralem Pjanic, but all my teammates were happy for me.

“Then there’s the great Gigione [Gigi Buffon]. He’s no longer my captain, but he remains in my heart.”

Mario Mandzukic was on the other side, did Matuidi console his Juve teammate?

“In fact it was him who immediately congratulated me, I told him and [Marko] Pjaca that Croatia had played an extraordinary game.

“Obviously though Mario was very sad. There’s only one way to console him: to win a final with him, not against him.”

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