Pogba the best in Italy, but Pirlo is a football doctor

Pogba the best in Italy, but Pirlo is a football doctor - Brozovic

The Croatian reserved special praise for the Juventus duo, but admitted to following a different midfielder's example on the pitch

Inter's Marcelo Brozovic believes that Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo are the top players in Italy.

The 22-year-old joined the Nerazzurri from Dinamo Zagreb for €8 million in January and has since made four appearances for his new club.

While he once again admitted to styling his game upon that of the Manchester City midfielder, the Croatian offered his thoughts on who the best players in his position within Serie A are.

"For me best player in Italy is Pogba, although Pirlo is the doctor of football," Brozovic told Jutarnji List. "My role model is Lampard, I always wanted to play like him."

The Croatia international is still adjusting to his new surroundings, but stated that his grasp of the English language has helped him communicate with coach Roberto Mancini and the friendship of compatriot Mateo Kovacic has enabled him to settle quickly.

"I have learned English with former Dinamo player Josip Simunic's help and now I use it to communicate with Mancini," he added.

"Here we work a lot on tactics, with Mancini every inch of the pitch is covered. In Croatia it is a more loose, softer approach. Mancini allows me freedom to get forward as I have a good shot. Italian football is tough, very tactical.

"With Kovacic I have explored Milan and we also play PlayStation together. He is helping me a lot and I have begun to learn Italian. He also taught me to like sushi!"

With wearing the Nerazzurri shirt comes the pressure to beat city-rivals AC Milan, something which Brozovic has admitted is causing him trepidation ahead of their league meeting scheduled for April 18th.

"When I arrived, everyone told me on April 18 we play Milan and that it is the more important than everything else, including the Juventus game. I am not nervous usually but as I think of that match, I feel it a bit," he confessed.

Mancini's take on fellow European hopefuls Fiorentina on Sunday in a match that could see them close the gap on their fifth-placed opponents to just one point.

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