Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterJavier Zanetti spent more than two decades playing against and alongside the planets very best footballers.Its therefore fair to say that the former Inter Milan and Argentina stalwart knows a thing or two about identifying world-class players.Despite this, two of the entries in his all-time XI that he has given to FourFourTwo may raise an eyebrow among Manchester United fans.Zanetti on former Manchester United flopsThe first is Juan Sebastian Veron, who arrived at Old Trafford in 2001 with an enormous reputation and a hefty �28million price tag, having impressed in Serie with Sampdoria, Parma and Lazio.And while the midfielder would fail to reproduce his best form in England, Zanetti remains convinced of his former Argentine teammates ability. You may like How Marcelo Bielsa 'reignited that pure love the game' for Javier Zanetti "Jose Mourinho moved me into midfield so we could play together: he was a full-back with the soul of a striker" Javier Zanetti on the team-mate so good, he had to change positions to play with him You'll never guess which Manchester United star Lee Sharpe says he wished he'd played with A box-to-box midfielder with enormous quality, he tells FourFourTwo. He could dictate play like no one else, mixing short and long passes with that wonderful right foot of his.Zanetti also highlights just how complete Verons game was.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.I rarely saw him give the ball away He also had a ferocious shot from distance, we're talking thunderbolts. He was a magnificent midfielder.While Verons qualities were immediately apparent, Zanetti believes that another former Argentina and Manchester United star did not always get the recognition he deserved.The Red Devils broke their transfer record to sign �59.7million Angel Di Maria in 2014, but like Veron, was unable to recreate his best form at Old Trafford.Going forward, he is a nightmare for defenders, always creating danger, Zanetti insists.But people forget just how hard he works without the ball and how much he does to keep the team balanced.He has been essential in every final Argentina have played, the 2008 Olympics, the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 World Cup.TOPICSPeter SchmeichelThomas SrensenDenmarkPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromFlorent Torchut
