RAFAEL VAN DER VAART has raved about a surprising Manchester United star.
The former Real Madrid and Spurs ace played with some of the best players of his generation.
He was part of the Netherlands squad which reached the 2010 World Cup final, led by their talisman Wesley Sneijder.
Van der Vaart, 40, holds the Dutchman in great esteem having also played with him at the Bernabeu.
He praised Sneijder’s ability to hit a ball sweetly with both feet but believes one player rivals him in that area.
Van der Vaart played with the midfielder in question during his spell at Tottenham between 2010-2012.
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Tom Huddlestone is the player Van der Vaart named as the best striker of a ball he has ever seen.
Speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes: Fanzone, he said: “It was a real privilege to play in front of him.
“I never saw a guy – other than maybe Wesley Sneijder – who could strike the ball with both feet, so sweetly, that you couldn’t see a difference; you couldn’t tell which was his stronger foot.”
Huddlestone joined United last summer as a player-coach, allowing him to feature for the Under-21s side.
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He even produced a brilliant assist in the Papa John’s Trophy to help his side equalise late on against Fleetwood.
Huddlestone also produced a fine assist for Alejandro Garnacho’s goal against Barrow in the same competition, sparking calls for the midfielder to be called up to the first team.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk