Former Barcelona boss Juan Manuel Asensi does not believe that Cristiano Ronaldo deserved to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday.
The Real Madrid star was named as the world’s best footballer for the second time in his career, piping Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery in the process.
Asensi however believes that Ribery should have picked up the prestigious award and that Xavi should have won the award during his outstanding career, describing the midfielder as a one of a kind.
"Xavi should have won one or two Ballon d'Ors, he deserved them, but after seeing this year's award you begin to have doubts about it. They should have given it to Ribery for all he has done in 2013, but with the campaign in favour of Cristiano Ronaldo... I've never seen anything like that campaign before for a player to win an award," Asensi told local Catalan TV show La Xarxa.
“Messi is the best in the world, without a doubt. But he has had various injuries and Ribery has won three titles,” the former Barca coach added.
“"After so many years I can say that I was lucky enough to have Xavi in the youth levels at Barca. It is an honour to have been involved with this little guy who has achieved so much.”
"In the history of Barcelona, there has never been or will there ever be a player like Xavi, nor in all of Spain. And he has (Andres) Iniesta next to him. Xavi has some qualities that Iniesta does not have and vice versa, but there will never be another player like Xavi," Asensi concluded.
