'He Can Cross The Ball From Anywhere' - Chelsea Hero Babayaro Names The Toughest Player He Played Against

Former Chelsea left back Celestine Babayaro  has named ex-Manchester United right winger, David Beckham as the toughest opponent he faced in his career.

The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games gold medalist, who was on the books of Chelsea for eight years before switching to Newcastle United, believes the former England captain provided him with the most difficult challenges.

''The toughest player I played against? I played against a lot of really top players, players like Ronaldo, Figo, Ryan Giggs and so on,'' Babayaro told Nigeria Info FM.

''But I will tell you this, the most difficult player I ever played against is David Beckham. You know why? You don't even need to go close to him, all he needs to do is control and cross.

''One of the best crossers of the ball in the world, so for you to mark that kind of person is very difficult because he can cross the ball from anywhere even from the halfway line.

''All he needs to do is control the ball, open his body up and cross it.''

Celestine Babayaro was the first African player to be signed by Chelsea when he joined the Stamford Bridge outfit from Anderlecht in 1997.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel