SPAIN'S PRIME MINISTER VISITS AS
Mariano Rajoy: "I wouldn't like to see Neymar at Real Madrid"
The Spanish Prime Minister spoke about the Real Madrid-PSG tie: "I think we can knock them out; the Champions League is Real Madrid's competition".
Diario AS welcomed a special guest as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations - Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy visited the newsroom to chat about the some of the current issues in sport - including the Spanish teams involved in the Champions League, which resumes this week. One of the Last 16 ties which is generating a great deal of expectation is Real Madrid's clash with PSG.
You can never underestimate the holders
Rajoy, who has been a season ticket holder at Real Madrid since 1986, is hopeful about Zidane's team's chances of making the quarter finals: “Looking at it rationally, you might think that they'll give us a hiding, but anything can happen in these kinds of games. Let's not forget that this is Real Madrid and that the Champions League is their competition - especially now that tehy are out of the running for LaLiga and they're out of the Copa del Rey. It's more or less the same team as last season and we're talking about the defending champions - the side which has won three of the last four Champions Leagues. I think we can eliminate PSG”, he explained.
PSG are not just about their three forwards - Rajoy
When asked about PSG's main threats, Rajoy replied: “People will focus on the three players they have up front, who are great players, but they have a brilliant squad with players like Di María, Verratti, Rabiot, and the Argentine lad - Lo Celso. We'll be in for two very keenly-fought games between two clubs with the best squads in the world”.
Despite his respect for PSG, Rajoy feels that Madrid don't need to sign Neymar, who is being touted as the next galáctico: “No I wouldn't like to see Neymar in the white shirt of Madrid”, the PM admitted.