Exclusive: Gündoğan on his ultimate player, Clásico greats and Kroos envy | OneFootball

Two of Germany’s finest-ever players will come face-to-face this weekend when Barcelona take on Real Madrid.

El Clásico is always one of the most talked about games in any season, but this weekend’s fixture will have extra resonance for anyone watching in Berlin or Bremen, Munich or Mannheim.

International team-mates İlkay Gündoğan and Toni Kroos will be competing against each other on the biggest of stages as the Blaugrana look to reel in Los Blancos at the top of LaLiga.

It will be Gündoğan’s Clásico debut whilst Kroos will be competing in his 26th match against Real Madrid’s most bitter rivals.

And speaking exclusively to Onefootball, Gündoğan admitted that there is one aspect of Kroos’s game he wishes he could steal.

“I don’t think there are too many differences between Toni Kroos,” the Barcelona man said.

“But if I am honest, I have to admit Toni is better at long-distance shooting, especially from outside the box.”

One man who won’t be playing in Saturday’s match is Pedri, who will miss his fourth consecutive Clásico through injury.

Gündoğan, though, was quick to praise the youngster’s abilities, even if they have only played a handful of games together this term.

“Pedri is a very special talent. Unfortunately, we have only played the first games of the season together so far.

“I see in him a younger version of myself. He plays in the same role and with the same strengths like me: vision and passing.

“I am sure he will be one of the best in his position very soon and one of the key players in world football.”

Having been around the block for a few years, Gündoğan has played with and against some of the greatest to ever play the game.

But how would he build his perfect player from those he’s shared a pitch with?

The list included a few surprising, and not so surprising, names.

“Heading: Miro Klose; Speed: Leroy Sané; Vision: Mesut Özil; Passing: Xavi; Dribbling: Kylian Mbappé; Finishing: Erling Haaland; Right Foot: Kevin De Bruyne; Left Foot: Lionel Messi.”

Although having never played in a Clásico, Gündoğan gave a heavily Barcelona-slanted response when asked to name his best-ever XI from the fixture.

The team: “Marc-André ter Stegen; Pique, Puyol, Sergio Ramos; Xavi, Guardiola, Iniesta; Cruyff; Messi, C. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho.”

Let’s hope a lack of Kroos in that side doesn’t come back to bite the former Manchester City man this weekend.