'Ronaldo and Messi need each other' - Laudrup

The legendary Dane believes the Real Madrid and Barcelona attackers keep pushing one another to new heights

Former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Michael Laudrup believes that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldoneed one another to keep improving.

The two stars have enjoyed a fascinating rivalry over the past decade, winning every Ballon d'Or between them since 2008 and regularly surpassing 50 goals apiece in all competitions each season.

Laudrup, who spent five years at Camp Nou before moving to the Santiago Bernabeu in 1994 believes that both will be remembered as some of the finest players ever to play the game when they eventually retire.

"I think they need each other," he told EFE.

"If one scores a hat-trick, the other tries to beat that. They are two of the best, not just of this era - in 30 years we'll be talking about them and the debate will be whether Messi, Cristiano, Maradona or Pele is the greatest of all time."

When asked which of them he would rather have in his team, the Dane replied: "Both would have to be in it, as they've clearly been the best two over the past four or five years."

Laudrup also said that James Rodriguez must become accustomed to the pressure of representing Real Madrid before he becomes a weapon for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

"He's a great footballer. He's got to get used to playing for such a big side, with all the pressure that comes with that," he added.

Primera Division: Luis Suarez says El Clasico return for Barcelona was fate

Luis Suarez admits there must be a reason why his first game back for Barcelona will be against Real Madrid.

Luis Suarez says it is no coincidence his four-month biting ban expires the day before Barcelona take on Real Madrid.

FIFA banned Suarez for four months and barred him from nine competitive internationals after he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini whilst playing for Uruguay in a World Cup fixture in Brazil.Suarez scored twice for Uruguay in a 3-0 friendly win over Oman on Monday, his second appearance in this international break, and he is keen to get back to first-team action.

"I’m the kind of person who believes that things happen for a reason, and out of all 19 team in the League, it’s precisely against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu that I’ll make my comeback. There must be a reason," Suarez told Barcelona magazine.The ban ends on October 24, meaning Suarez could play at the Bernabeu the following day if he is elected by Luis Enrique.

Liverpool narrowly missed out on winning the Premier League last season and Suarez added that his influence was a driving force in their title bid.

"I really could leave happy because if I hadn’t had the attitude and mentality to lead the team, I don’t think Liverpool would have done as well as they did. Getting back into the Champions League was another target I had in mind."

Suarez admits it was difficult to apologise after his incident with Chiellini before he eventually realised he had made a mistake.The 27-year-old has been also training with his new Barcelona team mates to make sure he is ready for his comeback.

"I left it a few days because you have to remember that I’m only human and sometimes it’s hard to face the truth. I found it hard to take in and to realise what I had done.

"Those were days when I didn’t want to know about it. I just wanted to be with my wife and children, who supported me through that time.

"I didn’t want to listen to anybody, or speak to anybody. I didn’t want to accept it."

Cruyff: Suarez will improve Messi and Neymar

The former Barcelona coach believes the Uruguayan's imminent return will provide the missing link for Luis Enrique’s side

Luis Suarez is the man to bring the best out of Lionel Messi and Neymar, according to Netherlands legend Johan Cruyff.

The €88m summer signing from Liverpool is yet to feature for Barcelona as a result of his four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini in Uruguay's World Cup clash with Italy over the summer.

However, Cruyff says Suarez’s introduction to the Barcelona fold will provide the missing spark to complete arguably the most fearsome front three in world football.

“Perhaps the presence of Suarez will improve the connection between Messi and Neymar,” the 67-year-old told reporters.

“With Messi, sometimes you cannot score so you need to assist and he has the quality to develop. Last year the partnership did not work, so we will see what happens in the future.”

Despite Suarez’s lengthy absence, Cruyff says he has been impressed with the Catalans' start to the season.

“They have made a good start but the awards are not won until May. There have been many changes but to start off winning is an important step.”

And the club’s honorary president also had words of praise for new coach Luis Enrique.

“We will see if he succeeds but things are looking good. There will be injuries and you need a little bit of luck but for now Luis Enrique has it all [to succeed].

Suarez: Cavani should leave PSG because he is no Ibrahimovic.

The 79-year-old feels that the Uruguay international has become a "normal" player because he has to work for his Swedish team-mate

Former Spain international Luis Suarez believes that Edinson Cavani should leave Paris Saint-Germainbecause he will always be forced to play second fiddle to the "more complete" Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Ligue 1 outfit paid a reported €64.5 million to sign Cavani from Napoli in the summer of 2013 and the Uruguay striker netted 25 goals in 43 appearances in his first season at the Parc des Princes - despite often being deployed out wide to allow the Swede to lead the line.

Cavani has seen more game time in his preferred central attacking role this term because of the injury-enforced absence of the former AC Milan man but he has failed to flourish, netting just three goals in nine Ligue 1 appearances.

Consequently, speculation is rife that the 27-year-old wants to quit the French capital and Suarez feels that a parting of the ways would be best for both parties.

"He's become a normal player who just works for Ibra," the 79-year-old told France Football.

"Sometimes, despite wanting to make things better, you actually make the situation worse.

"So, I think it would be better for him and the club [if Cavani] were to leave] because Zlatan is more complete and stronger."

Cavani, who represented his country at Brazil 2014, was linked with both Manchester United and Chelsea during the summer transfer window.