Darren Fletcher likens Xherdan Shaqiri to Lionel Messi

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 28 July 2017

New Stoke City midfielder Darren Fletcher likens teammate Xherdan Shaqiri to Barcelona's five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

New Stoke City midfielder Darren Fletcher has talked up the "fantastic" qualities of Xherdan Shaqiri, likening him to five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

Shaqiri was limited to just 22 appearances across all competitions last season due to injury, but he has looked bright in the club's pre-season schedule so far.

Fletcher in particular has been impressed by what he has seen from the 25-year-old, who he believes bears some similar traits to Barcelona superstar Messi.

"I'm not saying he's Messi but he's got that same low centre of gravity and he can get past you so he really is hard to get a handle on," the former Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion man told The Sentinel.

"He's a fantastic footballer. You can talk about his strength and his size but the biggest thing is that his first touch is fantastic: that moves the ball and eliminates strong players, then he relies on his strength when he has to.

"But most of the time that first touch is that good that it's probably the difference. He's a top quality player, you can see that. He has great strength, receives the ball, is sharp. Things happen when he gets the ball, which is important. You need your match winners, you need your mavericks, and he's definitely one of those."

Stoke will begin the new Premier League season away to Everton on August 12.