Jack Grealish is reminiscent of Lionel Messi with a right foot, claims Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who also says the England star is the most talented player he has ever seen.
Grealish is enjoying a superb season with the Villains as they push for a European finish and he looks to cement his place in the England side ahead of the European Championships this summer.
The 25-year-old has been linked with a number of big clubs, most regularly Manchester United, but he has remained loyal to his hometown club where he wears the captain’s armband.
Martinez, who has played with Grealish since moving to Villa Park from Arsenal in the summer, has been bowled over by his new teammate and has the highest praise for him.
The goalkeeper has been called up to Argentina squads in the past and trained alongside Messi and rates Grealish as highly as the Barcelona superstar.
‘He [Grealish] is the most talented player I’ve ever seen,’ Martinez told talkSPORT. ‘He never gives the ball away.
‘When I see Grealish running, it’s always a shot on target or a corner for us. He will drive past two or three players.
‘I just see Messi with a right foot when he has the ball. You can’t get the ball off him.
‘He’s the most talented English player and I’m surprised he hasn’t played more games for England.
‘Messi is Messi, he’s the best ever. But in terms of training, when Jack has the ball, people don’t want to tackle him, they respect him, he can finish, he can chop, he can do everything.
‘When I train with Messi for the national team, it’s the same. Nobody wants to touch him, he chops people, he treats players like cones I see that with Jack here.’
Villa are coming off an impressive win over Arsenal last weekend and take on Brighton on Saturday in the Premier League.
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