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El Clasico: Who is the best summer signing - James Rodriguez or Luis Suarez?

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Guillem Balague and Terry Gibson discuss who they think will win El Clasico

With the hotly anticipated El Clasico on the horizon, Sky Sports News HQ ran a Twitter poll to decide who is the best summer signing: James Rodriguez or Luis Suarez?

Real Madrid v Barcelona is live on Sky Sports 5 HD from 5pm on Saturday and ahead of the clash, Sky Sports' La Liga experts Guillem Balague and Terry Gibson were in the studio to discuss the two recent signings.

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Real Madrid signed Colombia star Rodriguez from Monaco for £63million, while Uruguay ace Suarez joined Barcelona from Liverpool in a £75million deal.

In a discussion that was chaired by Rob Wotton, Balague made a case for Rodriguez and Gibson was fighting Suarez's corner.

Balague on Rodriguez

Image: James Rodriguez: Lost out to Suarez in poll

"This is for people who see football beyond goals," said Balague. "Yes, he (Rodriguez) wouldn’t score as many goals as Suarez, but he got 13 assists for Monaco and 11 goals, so he can still score from midfield.

"Also, what you get with him is that you have a guy who can do it all: attack and defend. He is the complete player and makes Real Madrid better.

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"He was one of the best goal scorers at the World Cup and now he’s at Real Madrid he’s on his way to becoming a top, top player. He’s a guy that can play between the lines, in the number 10 role and he knows his role.

What you get with him (Rodriguez) is that you have a guy who can do it all: attack and defend. He is the complete player and makes Real Madrid better.
Guillem Balague

"Real Madrid are a team that need to open up defences and to do that you need pure talent. Someone to find Cristiano Ronaldo’s runs. Although he won’t grab as many headlines as Gareth Bale and Ronaldo, Rodriguez can open up defences.

"Suarez may also struggle in his first year from the Premier League. In Ronaldo’s first season at Madrid, they won nothing and Bale was poor in his first season. Also, Luka Modric was voted the worse signing of the season in his first year in Spain."

Gibson on Suarez

"He (Suarez) is one of the true world-class strikers in football and it was a position that needed filling at Barcelona," explained Gibson.

The main thing about Surarez is his capabilities to score spectacular goals and make goals for his teammates. He’s just an all-round brilliant centre-forward.
Terry Gibson

"It’s been a long time since they’ve signed a recognised world-class centre-forward. In Luis Enrique’s system at Barcelona, Suarez is the perfect man to play the centre-forward role alongside Neymar and just in front of Lionel Messi.

"We want to see goals and he’ll score plenty in that Barcelona team.

"He fits the bill. It’s not just his undoubted ability to score goals for Barcelona, it’s his tenacity in trying to win the ball back.

"His work-rate is second to none but the main thing about Surarez is his capabilities to score spectacular goals and make goals for his teammates. He’s just an all-round brilliant centre-forward."

After an interesting hour of voting that saw the results swing on multiple occasions, the Twitter public voted 51% in favour of the Barcelona man, while 49% preferred Real’s creative midfielder.

Real Madrid v Barcelona is live on Sky Sports 5HD from 5pm on Saturday.

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