Juninho Pernambucano assured Andrea Pirlo is “the professor, an artist of the free kick who deserves the Ballon d’Or.”
The Brazilian remains one of the greatest free kick specialists of all time and spoke to Tuttosport about the current crop.
“Pirlo is a reference point for all free kick takers,” Juninho told Tuttosport.
“He is a professor, an artist of the free kick who has reached the top. I am not surprised that Leo Messi studies his set pieces.
Juninho Pernambucano assured Andrea Pirlo is “the professor, an artist of the free kick who deserves the Ballon d’Or.”
The Brazilian remains one of the greatest free kick specialists of all time and spoke to Tuttosport about the current crop.
“Pirlo is a reference point for all free kick takers,” Juninho told Tuttosport.
“He is a professor, an artist of the free kick who has reached the top. I am not surprised that Leo Messi studies his set pieces.
“Andrea is the one all the world looks to. It would only be right if before the end of his career he could lift the Ballon d’Or. He deserves it.”
Juninho used to train with his former Lyon teammate Miralem Pjanic, who is now scoring regularly for Roma.
“Pjanic is still young, but can improve so much. We used to spend a long time practising together, so I expect him to become more decisive in free kicks from a wider angle too.”
Juninho named Clement Grenier of Lyon, Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and Roma captain Francesco Totti as his other favourite free kick takers.