Yaya Toure has made a comparison between Lionel Messi and Manchester City greats Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez.
The Barcelona forward is in Manchester today as he gears up to face United in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie. It is Messi's first visit to the city since Barcelona were beaten 3-1 by City at the Etihad in November 2016.
Messi, Aguero and Tevez have played alongside each other at international level with Argentina and Toure appeared to suggest the body types of Argentine players are genetically suited to football.
"You see two or three players close to him (Messi), you give him the pass and straight away he knows what to do with it," Toure said when discussing Messi's qualities in an interview with the BBC. "He's so difficult to take the ball off his legs, because he's very short and he's got the big legs like Aguero and Tevez.
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"Argentina players have tough legs. In the top they are a little bit weaker but in the leg they are so strong. You know what I mean. It's so difficult to take the ball off his legs and without doubt he's one of the best players in the world."
Asked to analyse Messi as a person and not as a player, Toure added: "I think Messi is such a strange character. He's different, he's special.
"You never heard him talking a lot, he's always focusing and always concentrating on his football game, you know. He's a perfect teammate and he's enjoyable to play with."
Is Messi the greatest player Toure has ever played with?
"Yes, yes, definitely to be honest," he firmly replied.
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