Stefan Effenberg: 'Mario Mandzukic better than Neymar'

Former Germany international Stefan Effenberg has claimed that Mario Mandzukic is a more effective footballer than Neymar, and has said that the Juventus forward would be worth £177m if he were younger.

Mandzukic, who netted 10 times for Juventus last term, has scored twice for Croatia on their route to the final of the 2018 World Cup - including the winner against England in the semi-finals.

Effenberg has said that he "never understood" why Bayern Munich parted with the forward in 2014, and has insisted that the 32-year-old is "10 times better than a Neymar".

"I never understood why Bayern sold him," Effenberg wrote for T-Online." Mandzukic is one of three three best strikers in the world for me. He is working for the team and also scored the goal against England.

"If he were not so old, he would have a market value of €200m (£177m). I would prefer him 10 times better than a Neymar."

Neymar - the most expensive footballer of all time - scored 28 times in 30 appearances for PSG last summer, before netting twice for Brazil on their route to the quarter-finals of this year's World Cup.