Andres Iniesta’s performances at the World Cup have caught the eye of Diego Maradona, who says he plays like he is dressed for a night out. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Diego Maradona has described Andres Iniesta as playing “with a tailcoat, wearing a suit”, but stands by his assessment that Sergio Ramos is not a star player.<\/p>\n
Spain looked far from convincing as they stumbled through Group B –\u00a0perhaps unsurprising given coach Julen Lopetegui was dismissed on the eve of the tournament – to set up a last-16 clash with hosts Russia on Sunday<\/p>\n
But Iniesta – who joined Japanese side Vissel Kobe in May after a nearly two decades with Barcelona – was at his imperious best against Portugal, Iran and Morocco, leaving Argentina icon Maradona to purr over his seemingly effortless brilliance.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“Iniesta is a total star,”\u00a0he told Marca.<\/p>\n
“He plays with a tailcoat, wearing a suit, with dress shoes and has no problems.”<\/p>\n
He is less convinced about Real Madrid’s\u00a0Ramos, though, who Maradona\u00a0believes is not as good as his Atletico Madrid rival Diego Godin.<\/p>\n
Ramos has since responded by saying Maradona is light years away from Lionel Messi as Argentina’s\u00a0greatest ever player, and the 57-year-old is in no mood to go back on his assessment of the combative defender.<\/p>\n
“If Sergio Ramos wants, I apologise, but I will not change my purely football thinking,”\u00a0he added.<\/p>\n
“He is a great player, he is a great captain, he can become a good leader, as we see in Real Madrid, but not a star player.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I do not care what they say and I think freely.\u00a0Therefore, if Sergio was offended, I apologise, but I still think the same.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, David De Gea’s position in the team is reportedly under threat after a high-profile error in the opening 3-3 draw with Portugal, but Maradona feels the Manchester United goalkeeper should be given time.<\/p>\n