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In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more.
Xavi
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Xavi admires Scholes as a complete central midfielder, highlighting his skills and contributions to the game.

In this quote, Xavi expresses a deep respect for Paul Scholes, noting his exceptional ability as a central midfielder. He underscores Scholes' all-rounded capabilities, including playmaking, scoring, and strength, while also hinting at potential biases in player valuation based on nationality.

Themes

ScholesMidfielderFootballSkillsTalent

In practice

Example use cases

Using this quote in a football discussion to highlight the importance of versatile players.

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