Aston Villa captain John McGinn makes superb claim about Celtic player

Celtic came very close to signing John McGinn during Brendan Rodgers' first stint as the club's manager. The Hoops allowed things to drag on for far too long though and eventually, when they did make a push for his signature, it was too late and he was on his way to Aston Villa. And all things considered, things have worked out quite well for the midfielder down in England.

McGinn is captaining Aston Villa now and they are playing their best football in decades, having managed to make it to the Champions League. One of the clubs they will face this season in Europe's top competition is Celtic.

Celtic will travel to Villa Park in early 2025. That is quite some time away though. For now, the focus is on the upcoming international break.

One player who won't be taking part is Callum McGregor. The Celtic captain announced his retirement from international football last month, having been a regular for the Scottish national team for years.

Aston Villa captain John McGinn makes superb claim about Celtic player

McGinn had nothing but positive things to say about McGregor recently. As reported by the Daily Record, the Aston Villa captain and Scotland international said:

"It's not taken me by surprise. Cal’s not had a break in the summer for years.

“How he's managed to do what he's done is a credit to him. He's a great professional, great teammate. And I'm sure if his body allowed him to carry on, he probably would have.

“He was passionate to play for Scotland. The way he's playing, the way he's shooting from outside the box every game and finding the top corner, it's certainly going to be a big loss for us.

“So it's been great to play alongside him but Cal’s made his call and we respect it and support him. And hopefully someone could step up in his place."

McGregor appears to have taken his game to the next level since announcing his retirement from the international game. It feels like he is playing with more freedom now than he has over the past few years.

It might very well be because of the fact that he now knows that he will get some rest during the international breaks. That way, he can go all out while playing for Celtic.

That is important for someone who plays as much football as McGregor. It is truly remarkable what he has managed to achieve over the years and his decision to retire from international football should only extend his career in the long run.