Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez has likened Manchester City's summer signing Ilkay Gundogan to Spain legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
The Germany international completed a switch to join Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium back in June, and is expected to play a key role as the club look to challenge for the Premier League title.
Gundogan missed a large chunk of the 2015-16 season through injury, and was absent from Germany's squad for Euro 2016 as a result, but Martinez has seen enough to convince him that the 25-year-old is one of the best around.
He told Goal: "I think Germany have a lot of good players. The most similar player to Xavi and Iniesta is Gundogan, but he has been injured. Germany also have many good young players; Joshua Kimmich, who had an amazing Euros, or Leroy Sane. So the problem [Germany losing the semi-final at Euro 2016] is not about the players, it can be as simple as sometimes you win, sometimes you don't.
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"The most important thing is that you are convinced with the way you play. If you play counter-attacking football you have to be convinced. It's the same with possession. The German players all know what they have to do and they are convinced of this style."
Martinez was another to miss the showpiece international tournament in France through injury but the midfielder, who has since returned to action during pre-season, insists he is not looking back and is focussed on the upcoming 2016-17 campaign.
He added: "Of course it was not good to miss the Euros. I really wanted to go, but I had an injury with my ankle just before of the German Cup final and I was obviously disappointed because of that. The positive side of that is that I've had a long summer, that I was able to prepare my knee and my ankle to start pre-season in a good condition."
The Spaniard is currently with the rest of the Bayern squad on the Audi Summer Tour, with the Bavarians facing AC Milan in an International Champions Cup fixture on July 27.
- Goal