Samir Nasri says it "would be the best" for him to be compared to Barcelona hero Andres Iniesta.
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The France midfielder has become a first-team regular at Sevilla, having played in 11 La Liga games since joining on loan from Manchester City - only missing four games due to injury.
Ex-Arsenal star Nasri continues to be utilised in an attacking role, though he started the early days of his career in deep midfield, and has reiterated that Barca icon Iniesta remains one of his heroes.
"Iniesta was not a ball winner," he told Onze Mondial. "He was a box-to-box player in a midfield three with Xavi and Busquets is the ball winner.
"To become Iniesta, for me, would be the best. If someone compares me to him, it's an honour."
Nasri was seen as having the potential to become one of the best deep-lying midfielders in the world when he was at Marseille, but he insists he has always felt more comfortable playing in a more advanced role.
"I didn't want to be the 'No.6 of tomorrow' because there were players who played the role before me who did great things. I was better suited to pushing forward than a classic No. 6.
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"Today, I play as a box-to-box No. 8 and it gives me pleasure."
Nasri has scored three goals in 15 games in all competitions for Sevilla this term, who sit second in La Liga and face leaders Real Madrid in Thursday's Copa del Rey encounter before taking them on again in La Liga on Sunday.