Maxwell: Barca was a ´masterclass´

Paris Saint-Germain defender Maxwell has fond memories of his spell at Barcelona, and feels he learned plenty at Camp Nou.

The left-back joined Barca from Inter Milan in 2009, before leaving the club for PSG back in January, but he remains a keen admirer of the Catalan powerhouse.

“I had a fantastic time at Barcelona and I still keep a close eye on how they do. Everybody enjoys the way they play,” Maxwell told La Xarxa.

“Playing for (Pep) Guardiola’s Barcelona was a like a football masterclass for me. I really learned a lot. I played with players who were always on top of their game and still looking to improve, with a very complete coach.

“The coach always managed to motivate the team. My time at Barca was a spectacular experience for me.”

The Brazilian defender also had his say on the upcoming Fifa Ballon d’Or award, and voiced his opinion that Lionel Messi deserves to win the prestigious individual trophy.

“Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are all fantastic players. However, nobody has been at Messi’s level in the past four years or so. He’s incredible and deserves the Ballon d’Or,” he said.

Messi won the first two editions of the Fifa Ballon d’Or.