Yaya Toure has opened up on his experiences of playing with Lionel Messi.
The Argentine is set to lead Barcelona's charge once again as they take on Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Toure played with Messi at the start of his Barcelona career and has lifted the lid on the 31-year-old's personality away from the pitch.
"Messi is such a strange character. He is different and special," he told BBC Sport.
"You never hear him talking a lot and he is always concentrating and focusing on his football.
"He is a perfect teammate and enjoyable to play with."
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Messi has previously shone on English soil and scored at Wembley against Tottenham in the group stages.
Toure was part of the Barca side that won the Champions League in 2009 as Messi scored in the win over Manchester United
And Toure believes Messi, who is now skipper at the Nou Camp, can assure more trophies for the La Liga champions this season.
"You give him a pass with two or three players around him and it is so difficult to get the ball from him," the former Man City midfielder added.
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"For me, the guy has taken football to another level. He is always ahead of his opponents and his teammates.
"To train with him, he adapts to you and you have to adapt to him.
"When you play with him, he will win trophies. He always wants to play in all the games."
Messi has scored 33 times in La Liga and added another six goals in just 10 Champions League matches to date.
