The John McGinn to Celtic saga is one that many will remember, but not for the right reasons. In 2018, he made the switch to Aston Villa and hasn’t looked back. Would he have developed into the same player had he moved to the Hoops? Chris Sutton has had his say.
McGinn was a pivotal member of the Hibs squad that won the 2016 Scottish Cup, which caught the eye of several clubs.
Celtic looked like strong contenders to win the race for the midfielder eight years ago, only for him to end up making the permanent move to Aston Villa instead.
Since then, he has established himself as a fan-favourite and became club captain in 2022. It’s a testament to how well he’s settled into life down in England, having been part of the team that secured promotion to the English Premier League.
Last season, he featured in the Champions League, the first time Villa had qualified for the tournament since its rebrand in 1992, and their first appearance in Europe’s top competition in 41 years.
McGinn played against his boyhood club Celtic in last season’s league phase, helping the Birmingham-based side to a 4-2 win.
His rise to the top has been brilliant to see, but it still leaves a ‘what if?’ in the mind of some Celtic supporters.
Would he have been the same player had he opted for a move to Glasgow? Chris Sutton has had his say.
Speaking on the The Warm-Up, he said:
“It’s impossible to answer. But, yeah, I do actually. I always thought he was an intelligent player at Hibs, but he has gone down to the Premier League.
“You look at the success he has had at Aston Villa. The influence on the team. He’s the captain, and the way he is regarded in the Premier League as a top, top player. This is pretty straightforward for me.”
McGinn is now Scotland Men’s joint-fourth most-capped player on 83, and is fifth in the scoring charts with 20 goals.
While currently sidelined having undergone surgery, he looks set for a return in time for the World Cup this sumemer.
He won’t rule out pulling on the Hoops jersey in the latter stages of his career, but many will wish he had done so at his peak.
Celtic thought they should get him on the cheap from Hibs, as the Old Firm clubs always do. Serves them right for being so tightfisted.