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Aston Villa midfielder, John McGinn, has named the toughest defender helium has played against successful the Premier League.
He identified a fewer players from Arsenal and Manchester United arsenic the strongest defenders helium has encountered passim his career.
The Scotsman stated that Riccardo Calafiori and Luke Shaw are the toughest opponents helium has ever faced.
Calafiori transferred to Arsenal from the Italian nine Bologna successful 2024 for a reported interest of £33.7 million, on with £8.3 cardinal successful imaginable add-ons.
He has made 67 appearances for the Gunners successful each competitions and played a pivotal relation successful their Premier League-winning run successful 2025-26.
On the different hand, Shaw joined Manchester United from Southampton successful 2014 for a reported £30 million, positive £1 cardinal successful add-ons. Despite facing galore wounded challenges, helium has remained a cardinal subordinate for the Red Devils implicit the past decade, accumulating 328 appearances crossed each competitions.
During an quality connected the Stick To Football podcast, McGinn was inquired astir the defenders who posed the top challenges for him. Bypassing notable names specified arsenic William Saliba and Gabriel, the Aston Villa skipper remarked (via Metro):
“Do you cognize who truly amazed me? Calafiori. Calafiori and Luke Shaw would beryllium my 2 hardest opponents. Luke Shaw due to the fact that I needed to wholly adapt...
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