Jonás Gutiérrez admits he is flattered by Lionel Messi's recent claims that he is as good as Fernando Torres, Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas.

What we couldn't understand was why Diego Maradona played out star winger at full-back in the World Cup.

It was like playing Wayne Rooney in goal.

Jonás Gutiérrez: “I read the words which he said about me. He told me that he had spoken about me so I looked out for them,” he said.

“For Lionel Messi to say that is great. He had his reasons, he knows that it is difficult for me to come to a different country, especially when the team went down to the Championship.

“Now I want to prepare and fight in the Premier Legaue. I want to do it better that I did the first time.

“Argentina has a lot of quality players so it was not really surprising to be left out of the squad. I just have to fight and do really well for Newcastle to be involved again.

“I felt that I could be in there, but that is football. The new manager wants to look at other things and that is okay.”