France legend Zinedine Zidane has rubbished Sir Alex Ferguson’s ‘very strange’ criticism of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

Ferguson said in his new autobiography that Gerrard has never been ‘a top, top player’.

But The Mirror reports that Zidane, who is now assistant manager and sporting director at Real Madrid, insists that Ferguson is wrong and that Gerrard was once the world’s best midfielder.

Zidane said: ”Alex Ferguson is obviously one of the most successful coaches the game has ever had. But I did find his comments about Steven Gerrard very strange. To say he is not a top player is wrong.’

‘For two or three years, Steven Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world.

‘Even now he is playing at a high level for ­Liverpool and England.

‘Gerrard has been loyal to Liverpool throughout his career — which is great for them — but if he had wanted to leave four or five years ago then every top club in Europe would have tried to sign him.

‘And they would have probably had to break the transfer record to do it.’

— Daily Mail