Illarramendi Calls Real Sociedad a Better Team Than PSG; Analyses Soccer in US After Lionel Messi’s Arrival

Asier Illarramendi is one of the top names to have played for Real Sociedad. The player had two stints with the club from 2010 to 2013 and then from 2015 to 2023. During his time at the club, he made 253 appearances for the side and will surely go down as one of the best in club history. In a recent interview with media outlet Marca, Illarramendi made a surprising comment picking his former side as a better team in comparison to French champions PSG.

The former Real Sociedad skipper signed with MLS side FC Dallas in August during the summer transfer window. During the interview, the player also commented on the league’s growth following the latest arrivals, including the likes of Lionel Messi, and Luis Suarez, amongst others.

Asier Illarramendi picks his former side over PSG in shocking admission

Asier Illarramendi will surely be remembered as one of the top names in Real Sociedad history after playing a crucial role in the team’s success in the past decade. In an exclusive interview with Marca, the former Sociedad star was asked about his team’s chances against PSG in the UEFA Champions League Round of Sixteen.

The FC Dallas star backed his former team, stating, “They are my friends and I follow them. From the outside, it is seen differently and they are also valued differently. With the level they have given in Europe, they have shown that they are capable of anything. PSG has great players, but I think that Real [Sociedad] is a better team,”

The player is among a string of names who have made a move to the MLS in recent years. With the recent arrivals of the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the American competition is attracting a lot of attention from fans around the world.

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FC Dallas star comments on Lionel Messi’s move to MLS

During the interview, Illarramendi also commented on the recent growth of soccer in the United States. The soccer star stated that Lionel Messi and other ex-Barcelona stars moving to MLS will surely have a big impact on the league.

Illarramendi stated, “Football is something new there. Many clubs have just been born, the oldest ones will be 25 or 30 years old. The youth academy has not been worked on. Players like Messi, Busquets, Jordi Alba, or now Luis Suárez have arrived, and that makes the League grows.”

He then added, “The American fans are different. Here they live with a different passion. I’m not going to tell you that they are going to spend the afternoon there, but it is true that they sell football as a show, with fireworks and more things within the show they put on.”

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The landscape of the game is undoubtedly changing across the globe. Do you agree with Asier Illarramendi’s thoughts on the MLS and fans across the United States? Let us know in the comments below.