Keita: My all-time Dream Team

Seydou Keita has played with some of the best.

The Giallorossi man, who is now in his second season with the club, has had a glittering career - including two Champions League titles with Barcelona.

So when we asked the Malian midfielder to name his all-time dream team, who made the cut?

VICTOR VALDES

“I played with him for four years and the only thing I can say is that he’s a great goalkeeper. He’s brilliant with his feet and always performs to a high level. There’s no doubt that he’s one of the best goalies around.”

DANI ALVES

“I played with him for a year at Sevilla when I’d just moved to Spain from Lens in France, before we both went to Barcelona in 2008. He’s a phenomenon – a full-back by trade but he gets up and down that right flank like no other. He would pop up in midfield and even up front as he had a good eye for goal. He’s definitely one of the best footballers I’ve played with.”

FRANCO BARESI

“AC Milan were one of the great sides when I was growing up and he stood out for his elegant playing style. He was a central defender that knew how to play with the ball at his feet, he was very intelligent. I think he was one of the best centre-backs of all time.”

PAOLO MALDINI

“What can you say about someone who plays for the same team until the age of 40? He started out as a full-back and later converted to centre-back. He was a force of nature and I have the utmost respect for him.”

ERIC ABIDAL

“Eric is a fighter. He’s had two serious illnesses and he’s overcome them with sheer strength of will. And he battled back to play at the highest level with Barcelona, Monaco and Olympiacos. What more can you say? He’s a legend and an example to all, as a footballer and as a human being. He proves that if you want to succeed in life, you have to fight.”

ABEDI PELE

“My childhood hero. When I started following football, especially African football, he was the best African player around. And he was left-footed like me – that’s why he was my idol! He could do everything and was a real leader for the Ghanaian national team. I didn’t watch much European football at the time, so he was the player I always looked out for.”

ZINEDINE ZIDANE

“He was elegance personified. The way he controlled the football… he would twist this way and that at will. It was extraordinary. If you love football, you have to love Zidane.”

FERNANDO REDONDO

“Another leftie. He wasn’t the fastest but he read the game quicker than anyone else. I remember an assist he made for Raul against Manchester United. He was right on the touchline and pulled off an amazing backheel to steal away from his man – it was incredible. With the ball at the feet he was a genius and, most importantly, his mind worked as quick as lightening. He’s a player I always admired.”

MARCO VAN BASTEN

“He was a goalscorer and, at the same time, a very elegant footballer. I’ve always been an admirer of elegant players – the players that handle the ball with style and grace and end up making the difference for their teams. I’ll never forget that extraordinary volley against Russia.”

LIONEL MESSI

“I spent four years with Leo at Barcelona. He’s won four Ballon d’Or and four Champions Leagues. I trained with him every day and quite simply he’s a genius. He has a gift from God.”

GEORGE WEAH

“African hero. Winning the Ballon d’Or when he did was an extraordinary achievement because there were so many fantastic players at the time: Zidane, Van Basten, Luis Figo, Ronaldo. Now it’s basically just Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, but back in Weah’s day it was different. He’s an idol to me and to all of Africa.”