Micah Richards delighted with what’s happened to £50m player after he was linked to Liverpool

Micah Richards delighted with what’s happened to £50m player after he was linked to Liverpool

Micah Richards has detailed his delight for John McGinn after the Aston Villa midfielder was linked with a move to Liverpool.

The £50m-rated Scotland international has been one of the players of the season in the Premier League as Villa currently sit third in the top-flight under Unai Emery.

And speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards has lauded McGinn’s form this campaign after the midfielder was linked with a move to Liverpool last year.

Richards said: “People don’t understand how strong he is. When he bursts through and you try and get the ball off him, he gets in there and has this stance where it says ’get off me. He has great acceleration, the right passing, and a lot of people laughed when he came down from Scotland.

“After the first training sessions I was like ‘wow’. He can shoot, he can tackle, he was good in possession. He had a little dip last season when you’re thinking ‘come on, we need more from you, you’re the one who’s going to lead this team.’ But he’s got the form back and he’s oozing with confidence.

“He was linked with Manchester United and Liverpool a while ago, but how good for him that he’s now with a team fighting for Champions League football.”

John McGinn won’t be regretting Liverpool snub for Aston Villa stay

McGinn could now easily be playing for one of the Premier League big boys, with Liverpool certainly an option for the midfielder had he chosen to leave Villa.

However, the former Hibernian star has made the right call in remaining at Villa Park, with Emery taking McGinn’s game to a whole new level this season.

The Scotland international has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this season, and McGinn has now put Villa in a position to challenge with Liverpool for English football’s biggest prize.