Scotland's McGinn the troublemaker for Brazil - Silva

Image source, Getty Images

• Published43 minutes ago

John McGinn is having the time of his life.

In the past 12 months, the Aston Villa captain has helped his team lift the Europa League, including two first-class finishes in the semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

That's before we even get to the incredible turn of events for Scotland in November that are about to send him and his compatriots to the World Cup.

Now the 31-year-old midfielder has managed to appear on the Brazilian radar of icon Thiago Silva.

The Champions League winner and former Chelsea man has been keeping a close eye on the Scots, with Brazil due to meet Steve Clarke's side in Miami on 24 June.

Despite the star quality of Scott McTominay's bicycle kick and Andy Robertson's guile and grit, it's the industrious McGinn who Silva reckons could cause Carlo Ancelotti's team the most problems this summer.

"For me, the captain of Aston Villa, McGinn, is an amazing player," the 41-year-old said. "He plays inside the midfield, he plays on the wing sometimes. He has many qualities.

"I think the Brazil staff and Carlo Ancelotti, they will need to pay attention to this player.

"I think the match will be played at a good level."

Silva spoke to BBC Scotland while in Edinburgh going through his A Licence course with the Scottish FA, a destination he was pointed towards by Porto president Andre Villas-Boas.

The former Paris St-Germain defender now plays at Villas-Boas' club after returning to Europe in the hope of sling-shotting himself into Ancelotti's World Cup plans.

Sadly for him, that's not paid off, with Silva unsure what the future may hold for him.

"A little bit, a little bit," he said when asked if he was disappointed not to be going to the World Cup.

"But it's normal. It's decisions, it's football. So I accept this. So now I need to... put my mind to the course as well. It's better for me. After, I need to enjoy it with my family.

"[Scotland] is a big 11. It's a good team, they play well. But Brazil, for me, is better, in this moment.

"But in this level, you need to wait. Speak before, it changes nothing."

You can watch behind the scenes of Thiago Silva's A Licence course here, external on the BBC Scottish Football YouTube channel.

Related topics

• Scotland Men's Football Team
• Scottish Football
• FIFA World Cup
• Brazil
• Football
• Aston Villa

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