Jack Grealish plays like ‘Iniesta in his prime’, claims former Aston Villa team-mate Gabby Agbonlahor
JACK GREALISH plays like ‘Iniesta in his prime’ according to his ex-Aston Villa team-mate Gabby Agbonlahor.
Agbonlahor compared new England cap Grealish with World Cup winner and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta.
He told talkSPORT: “I’ve played with some great players but for natural ability, I’ve got to say Jack Grealish.
“I know I will upset a few players I played with but for me I’ve seen nothing like it.
“I mean even in training – you’ll have the quickest players, the best defenders and he just runs past you like you’re not even there.
“The amount of times I’ve tried to tackle him, in training when I played centre-back for a bit of banter.
“I can’t get anywhere near the guy so I end up kicking him and putting him on the floor.
“But it’s just that natural talent he’s got. It’s the movement of the body, a little movement of the body and he’s gone.
“A little bit of acceleration when he’s running with the ball and he’s gone.
“He reminds me a bit of like, I know it’s a big statement, but Iniesta in his prime.
“He’s just skipping past you, running past you, a little movement of the shoulders and he’s gone.”
Most read in Sport
Retired Agbonlahor’s outlandish claims immediately sparked some reaction from fellow talkSPORT presenter Jamie O’Hara.
Former Spurs midfielder O’Hara tweeted six crying with laughter emojis and a message that read: “someone stop this man, gabby you need a temperature check pal.”
Agbonlahor didn’t take the chat lying down and replied: “Maybe if u had played for England against iniesta and longer in the prem you would understand.”
O’Hara had the last word with a short and sweet comeback: “Ok shearer.”
Grealish’s worth to Aston Villa is in no doubt after the club snapped him up to a new five-year deal amid interest from Manchester United.
But the 25-year-old admitted it was a 50-50 decision whether to stay with his hometown side or leave for a new challenge.