Andres Iniesta 'proud' of Aitana Bonmati comparison
Cameron Smith
- 31 Oct 2023 19:30 GMT
- 3 min read
Andres Iniesta has admitted he is “proud” that Pep Guardiola compared him to Spain star Aitana Bonmati.
Bonmati, 25, won the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or on Monday evening in Paris after an incredible season for both Barcelona Femeni and Spain.
The midfielder helped Spain to Women’s World Cup glory this summer having aided Barcelona to wins in La Liga and the Champions League.
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Bonmati had also previously been named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year for 2022-23 and her win at the Ballon d’Or ceremony was seen as a formality.
During the aforementioned Women’s World Cup, Manchester City boss Guardiola shared his admiration for Bonmati. He revealed in a press conference: “Aitana Bonmati is a football player that I am completely in love with, for the way [she] plays.”
“I would say she is like the Iniesta of women's football. The current Barça team has had an incredible impact.”
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Iniesta and Bonmati have now both responded to this quote, with the two players equally delighted by the comparison.
What has been said?
As per Get Football News Spain, Iniesta responded to Guardiola by writing in a message: “I am proud that Guardiola compares me to the best player in the world today.
“What I would highlight most is her evolution: she has gone from being a good team player to having an increasingly important role to the point of leading the national team and Barça alongside Alexia Putellas and other great players”.
After winning the Ballon d’Or, Bonmati was asked about Guardiola’s comparison and admitted: “Pep is a role model for us. We were lucky to live through the golden era of Barça with him, Xavi, Iniesta, [Lionel] Messi. Those were the most beautiful days of my life.”
Bonmati beat Chelsea star Sam Kerr to the 2023 Ballon d’Or, while her Barcelona team-mates Salma Paralluelo and Fridolina Rolfo finished third and fourth.
