Villarreal coach Quique Setien has admitted his admiration for Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric.

The two clubs meet this weekend.

Setien said, “Modric is indisputably what he is because he is ahead, and intuits before anyone else what is going to happen. Before the ball arrives he already has an incredible reading of space and movements from around the world. To which adds his quality to make good controls, good passes and to see a second before what others see.

"This is a quality that is being perfected over time, although I think Modric already had it innate. That's something you have to bring from the factory, and Modric already had it from a very young age.

"In addition, the way of understanding football to associate, to play, makes everything perfect. He is a footballer I have great admiration for, I love to see him play, and for people like me who enjoy these footballers it is a pleasure to see him."

Setien also is calm about goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli leaving for Ajax.

He added: "I already knew Pepe (Reina) when I came here. I have seen him frankly well in the last games and he transmits very positive things. Filip is a great goalkeeper, we already know him and the mix between the two will be extraordinary. I'm sure they're both going to do it frankly well like they were already doing."