John McGinn has shared how Celtic hero Henrik Larsson is the reason why he wears the number 7, as he named him the GOAT (Greatest of all time) on the Premier League’s official channel.
Whether it be at club level for Aston Villa or on the international stage for Scotland, you can see the all-action and hard-hitting midfielder donning the legendary number.
But given that John McGinn is a boyhood Celtic fan, then it all links back to one of the club’s greatest-ever players, Henrik Larsson.
The 29-year-old would have been a young kid when the Swedish star was working his magic at Parkhead and winning memorable Trebles under the stewardship of the great, Martin O’Neill.
Well, those moments have had a big bearing on John McGinn’s career because he stated that he ‘always loved number 7 growing up’ and how he ‘always had Larsson 7 at the back of my top’, as he told The Premier League’s official channel.
The Aston Villa captain did jokingly add ‘I don’t play like him’, as he spoke highly about one of Celtic’s greatest-ever.
Whatever your age, the days of Henrik Larsson will go down as one of the greatest periods in the club’s history, and even to this day, it’s inspirational and memorable to many.
John McGinn number 7
“Henrik Larrson,” responded McGinn instantly when asked who is the GOAT. “That’s the reason (why I wear the number 7). Always loved number 7 growing up. I always had Larsson 7 at the back of my top.
“I don’t play like him, but I just like having number 7.”
John McGinn and Celtic
What could have been?! It’s now well-documented that Celtic wanted to buy McGinn from Hibernian before his transfer to Aston Villa in 2018.
Since then, he has gone from strength to strength and become a cult hero himself at Villa Park.
One of the best midfielders in the Premier League, he is now pushing for Champions League football and is a key player for Scotland ahead of Euro 2024.
Perhaps one day that door will knock again and McGinn will finally don the colours of Celtic because it would be a transfer fans would just love.
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