New Espanyol signing Roman Martinez has taken a swipe at neighbours Barcelona.

Martinez, who was snapped up by Espanyol from Argentina's Arsenal Sarandi, has been likened to former Barca midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme.

He said: "I like to say that my game is similar to his: Riquelme is my idol.

"In Barca, they killed him. He ended up on the left flank! What could he do there? He's incredible, but Diego Maradona is God. The greatest that ever existed."