Seydou Keita: 'Rudi Garcia reminds me of Pep Guardiola'

Former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita has compared Roma coach Rudi Garcia to Pep Guardiola, his old boss at the Camp Nou.

Keita joined the Serie A outfit on a one-year deal this summer following a spell at Valencia.

The 34-year-old is said to be relishing the opportunity to work under Garcia and has pointed out the similarities between the Frenchman and Guardiola.

"I have come into a great squad and a united locker room," Keita is quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"With players like Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi, Morgan De Sanctis, Mehdi Benatia, Miralem Pjanic and I'm surely forgetting others, we have everything it takes to enjoy a great season.

"Pep spoke highly of me at Barcelona because he always recognised my work for the team. Garcia is similar and reminds me of Pep, as he too likes to see his team play good football via possession and control."

Roma open their Serie A campaign when they host Fiorentina on August 30.