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Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has named John Stones in his world football dream team – and has hailed the Everton man as part of the “new generation” of ball-playing defenders.

Pique is considered one of the best centre backs in the world, especially on the ball – something which Stones’ reputation has been founded upon in his short time on Merseyside.

The 28-year-old, who has won every major honour for both club and country with the Catalan giants, has also likened Stones to another classy ball-player - Rio Ferdinand.

Pique’s admiration for the Blues star is evident, naming him alongside himself and Sergio Ramos in his world XI, with Stones one of only two players he has not played alongside.

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Speaking about the future of English defenders, Pique told the Telegraph: “Rio Ferdinand and John Terry were the two main central defenders in England. Top-level

“Now I think John Stones is a really, really, good player. He will have a good career.

“He’s like Rio, a bit. He’s young and alongside him they probably need one who is more experienced. Jagielka is injured.”

Pique played with Ferdinand during his four years at Manchester United, and has since lined up alongside other brilliant centre backs like Carles Puyol, for Barcelona, and Ramos, for the Spanish national side.

He is largely regarded as one of the classiest defenders in the modern game, and sees something similar in Stones, who he believes he understands football - and “not just as a defender”.

He added: “Now the position of the centre-back is not just about defending or being nasty or tough.

“It’s about knowing how to play football, control the ball, pass and be more comfortable in possession. And this is something that 10 years ago [in England] they didn’t understand. Rio was the first one who did it.

“And now there is Stones, he’s one of the new generation who understand football not just as a defender.”

Stones joins the likes of Barcelona’s front three - Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar - as well as David de Gea and Sergio Busquets in his best XI.

Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta, past and present at Camp Nou, are also in Pique’s team.