Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso believes Manuel Neuer, his
Bayern teammate, who won the World Cup with Germany in the summer, would be a
worthy recipient of the Ballon d'Or.
"If Manuel won it, it'd be totally deserved",
Alonso told Sport Bild. Neuer is currently considered one of the frontrunners
for the prize alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, whom the Basqueman played with for
several years at Real Madrid.
"Neuer is by far the best keeper I've played with and
is also outstanding outfield", Alonso raved, in the process taking his
ex-Real and Spain
teammate, Iker Casillas, down a peg.
However, Alonso believes that Cristiano and Lionel Messi
remain favourites for the accolade if it is judged purely on individual
performances. "Or is it team success? Then the Germans have the
edge", he added.
Six of Joachim Löw's World Cup-winning squad were named
among FIFA's 23 nominees for the prize: Neuer, Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller, Mario
Götze, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger. The final three-man shortlist
will be revealed on 1st December, while the award itself will be handed out on
12th January.
- MARCA.com
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