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Maresca names Toulalan as most underrated and Zidane as best of his career

Asked about standout players from his career, Manchester City's new manager Enzo Maresca cited Jérémy Toulalan as the most underrated and Zinedine Zidane as the best player he has played alongside.

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Maresca names Toulalan as most underrated and Zidane as best of his career
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Enzo Maresca did not hesitate for a second. Invited to name the most underrated player he has played with during his career, Manchester City’s new manager cited Jérémy Toulalan, with whom he shared the dressing room at Malaga between 2010 and 2012.

The former French international midfielder, who arrived at Malaga in 2011 from Olympique Lyonnais, joined a top-tier squad notably comprising Ruud van Nistelrooy, Santiago Cazorla, Joaquin and Nacho Monreal. Under Manuel Pellegrini’s direction, the Andalusian club finished fourth in La Liga in 2012 before reaching the Ligue des Champions quarter-finals the following season, narrowly eliminated by Borussia Dortmund.

Maresca, who spent eighteen years in professional football passing notably through Juventus Turin, FC Séville and Sampdoria, was also asked to name the best player he has played with. His answer was immediate: “Zinedine Zidane”.

These comments come at a particular time for Malaga, back in La Liga this summer after eight years away. The promoted Andalusian side is struggling to find its footing: after four matches, the club has yet to win a game, notably suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat at Santiago Bernabéu in the third round, and managing only two home draws against Deportivo La Corogne (1-1) and Levante (0-0).

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