Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has drawn comparisons between John Stones and Everton boss Ronald Koeman.
Koeman was widely regarded as one of the best defenders in world football during his playing career, six years of which were spent at Barcelona as a teammate of Guardiola.
Koeman sold Stones to City for £47.5m during the summer, and Guardiola believes that there are similarities between the Dutchman and the 22-year-old England international.
"They're quite similar in the sense that they both like to play the ball. Normally, a central defender is a big guy who plays with the head and marks man to man and is strong in the air. We need that, of course, but now it's the added plus of the quality of his play. John has similarities to Ronald, especially in terms of mentality," he told reporters.
"John is a guy who wants to play under pressure. Normally, the players who like to play the ball handle the pressure better than the other ones. Ronald was by far one of the best central defenders I've ever met. I cannot compare now, not yet, but maybe in the future. The long balls are always... wow. Ronald was the best ever at that. But John is young enough that he can improve.
"I am so glad that he played for the national team and did well. In the last European Cup (Euro 2016) he didn't play one minute. Now he's playing all the games and he's becoming an important player for the national team. I am so happy about that."
Guardiola and Koeman will renew acquaintances when Everton travel to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Barney Corkhill
