Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon is full of praise for teammate Josip Ilicic.

The midfielder scored four goals in victory at Valencia last week as Atalanta reached the Champions League quarterfinals.

De Roon said: "Josip is a strange player.

"For example: (Lionel) Messi is small but fast. He can change direction like Messi but with 190 cm on the shoulders.

"Now he is showing the best football in Italy, he is among the best in the world. I don't want to make a comparison with (Cristiano) Ronaldo but Josip is at a very high level."