Micah Richards told Match of the Day he thought Everton thriving loanee, Theo Walcott, would reach ‘Messi or Ronaldo’s level’ when he was a teenager.
Walcott is currently on-loan at his boyhood club Southampton where it all started as a young 16-year-old before his move to Arsenal.
On Wednesday, the versatile attacker came up against the Gunners where he opened the scoring and ensured his side walked away with a point.
Even though Walcott is still on Everton’s books, it didn’t work out for him at Goodison Park, as Richards, who played with him as a teen, shared that he is now playing with ‘confidence’.
“He was incredible from when he was playing for England under-16’s together,” said Richards. “And had he not had the injuries then he might have gone even further in his career.
“I thought he would be Messi or Ronaldo level, at that age. You can never tell at that age. But he was incredible. By far the best player I played within the England set-up.
“I’m not sure he was quicker than me. I could run back in the day. He’s now playing with confidence. When you play with confidence. You can do anything. That’s what he is doing now.”
It will be interesting to see what happens to Southampton this season because they may well pip the Toffees to a European place.
Walcott is back home, playing well and his team are flying high, so it won’t be a surprise if he ends up making a permanent switch down the line.
On current form, he may well get into Everton’s team, but it seems as though that ship has now passed.
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