Back to the Soccer Newsfeed

Spain Boss Wades Back Into Club Rivalry & Insists Barcelona Man Deserves FIFA Award Over Real Star

Spain boss Luis Enrique has waded back into the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid, not even 18 months after leaving his post as manager at the Nou Camp.

Enrique was asked ahead of his side's match against World Cup finalists Croatia on Tuesday whether he believed Luka Modric deserves to win FIFA's 'The Best' award - for which he is shortlisted alongside Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and newly-minted Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Given the chance to talk up the Real Madrid star ahead of the match, Enrique instead chose to swing the conversation in the direction of Barca and Argentina's Lionel Messi, saying: “If I have to talk about Croatia, I would talk about Modric and [Ivan] Rakitic.