Gianluigi Buffon has offered an insight into Celtic-linked Enzo Maresca after the pair worked together at Serie B side Parma.
The Italian managed legendary keeper Buffon during his one and only stint as a manager in his own right, and that relationship ended after just 13 games.
After winning just four games he was ultimately sacked, and he subsequently returned to Man City as Pep Guardiola's assistant.
Despite this poor record to his name, Buffon was impressed by Maresca during his short stint as manager.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, he said: “The first impressions are very good and convincing.
“I think every coach always tries to bring his own ideas, which often are different from the orthodoxy.
“The real difference though is how you manage to convey those ideas and get the team to take them on board.
“It seems to me that Maresca has something different that immediately gets into the players’ heads and that’s decisive.”
Reflecting on his own stint at Parma, Maresca said: "Managing in Italian football is difficult. But I am sure of one thing, I will be back as a manager one day.
"My family and I loved Parma. My daughter Maia was even born there. I will carry it forever in my heart.
"I regard my experience as Parma manager as a positive one. By nature, I am a positive person and I take the good out of all my experiences.
"But I have one regret.
"I was only starting my managerial adventure when it was ended. We were on the right track, the problem was that we had to try and construct a new team and that takes time.
"We needed to have the patience and strength to believe in something and over time I am certain we would have succeeded.
"We were at 17 points after 13 matches - three points from eighth place and with a completely new team.
"But listen in football, we all make mistakes and so did I.
"Parma gave me a three-year contract. And when you accept a multi-year contract it's because there's a project idea behind it. In those three years, the target was we had to reach Serie A.
"Nobody ever told me that we should have gone to Serie A in the first season, especially as there were about 15 players arriving at the club.
"But I repeat, we were definitely on the right track.
"I can't say why I was fired. Perhaps they thought with the squad we had, we should have been top of the table. I agree...but just not right away.
"With a little more time and some corrections, we would have got there.
"I had identified three signings in January and I am certain we would have made the play-offs.
"It's gone now. I look ahead.
"Now I am back working with Pep Guardiola. It's very exciting to be with him."
The former Juventus, Fiorentina and Sevilla star was headhunted by Parma following an impressive stint as manager with Manchester City's Under 23s.
During his time with the youth team, the group won the Premier League 2 title and recorded a win percentage of 68 per cent.
