Steal from a superstar! Ekitic: Mbappe is like a brother, Messi’s vision impresses me

Liverpool forward Ekitic reviewed his Paris career in a recent interview and talked about topics related to Mbappe, Messi and Neymar.

Ekitic's career choice highlights the characteristics of this young man - just like his style of play, he has a unique vision and never rests on his laurels. While rising to prominence at Reims, the teenager unexpectedly chose to join Danish side Vejle on loan.

"It's not a strange decision, but it's definitely beyond what people normally expect from a young star," Ekitic explained, saying he was eager for more playing time after debuting on the senior team stage with his hometown club. He then completed his first blockbuster move to Paris Saint-Germain and established a deep friendship with Kylian Mbappe, but the expected breakthrough never came.

Ekitic said frankly: "He was like an older brother to me. I was unable to play and I was in a difficult situation. He always treated me very well and always gave me advice. "

"He witnessed my low point in Paris, so it is gratifying to see that my situation has improved now. We will hopefully meet again and play side by side in the national team. He is faster than me - I am also very fast, but he is one of the fastest players in the world. . I hope I can reach his level one day, but we are different types of forwards. He has absolute speed, and I am more of a player who provides services to the team. "

Although he was recognized as one of the best young centers in France, when he lost his position in Paris, Ekitic did not hesitate to bid farewell to the Ligue 1 champions and came to Frankfurt to regroup, and his excellent performance also successfully attracted the attention of Liverpool. While other major signings were still struggling, Ekitic, who was transferred for 69 million pounds, quickly integrated. His confidence and calmness may come from the experience of playing alongside Mbappe, Messi, Neymar and Dembélé. He has observed these superstars up close and detailed.

"I can't say to the public that I can replicate their performance on the pitch, but if I can absorb the subtleties of their game - even movements without the ball - I'm happy to accept it, because I did watch them repeatedly during my time in Paris. I still study them. I try to learn from the players I admire and perfect my own skills through watching and learning. "

"Messi's vision impressed me, and now I also do it before receiving the ball. I will try to predict the situation earlier. Neymar taught me certain skills, such as ball control and fancy movements. Mbappe's movement without the ball is also worthy of reference. He can always create space through movement. There are too many details to learn, but I have indeed gained valuable insights from these great players. "

Ekitic also maintains a keen observation of his opponents and admits that Erling Haaland is setting a new benchmark for all centers. Ekitic said: "He has been among the top centers in the world for several years and is undoubtedly the target of my focus. If we want to improve on a technical level, his ability without the ball is the most worthy of reference - he does not touch the ball many times throughout the game, but he can always create a threat, which is impressive."

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