Philippe Montanier, the former manager at Real Sociedad who oversaw Asier Illarramendi’s spectacular season last year, has said the Basque midfielder is ready to take over from Xabi Alonso for club and country.
The Frenchman, now manager at Rennes, spoke in an interview with AS about the 23-year-old midfielder who joined Los Blancos from La Real for 38 million euros in early July.
“Xabi is a reference point for Basque players and I feel that he can help him [Illarramendi] to grow and develop too. They can definitely play together. Xabi and Asier are both great players,” Montanier said.
The 48-year-old was also asked whether Illarramendi is too similar to Sergio Busquets to be able to play together in the Spanish national team.
But he dismissed the concerns, preferring to compare him to another Barcelona star, Xavi Hernandez.
He stated: “Comparing is always difficult. Asier has different qualities [to Busquets]; the same role, yes, but different qualities. Asier is more in the mould of Xavi.
“Not only is he a midfielder that works hard to get the ball back, but he has enough quality to be involved in getting things moving and distributing the ball.
“He’s not bothered by what’s happening around him, only what happens on the pitch, and that’s where I have faith in him.”
i hope illarremendi become like xabi alonso