Emiliano Martinez has claimed that Lionel Messi and Aston Villa’s Philippe Coutinho are ‘the most skilful’ he has played with, as he told Ben Foster’s YouTube channel.
The Villa goalkeeper noted the manner in which Coutinho turns with the ball and even shared that he is stylish when playing bowling.
Martinez won the Copa America alongside Messi in the summer and watched him work his magic first-hand.
Not only out on the pitch, but also on a daily basis in training, which he gets to do with Coutinho now in the West Midlands.
And to put Coutinho’s name in the same bracket as Messi’s, when asked about who the most skilful players he played with are, is some compliment to his new Villa teammate.
“Messi and Coutinho,” said Martinez. “The way he (Coutinho) turns. The way he (shimmies).
“Even when we play bowling, he does those little turns. He is so skilful, my God.”
Coutinho is currently on-loan at Villa from Barcelona, the club where Messi put his name into the legendary books.
Given the start the Brazil international has had in B6, many Villa fans are calling for him to sign on a permanent basis.
Under Steven Gerrard’s stewardship, Villa want to get back into Europe and if Coutinho is at the club next season, then they have every chance to reach that target.
A small example of that was his performance against Southampton over the weekend because Villa ripped them apart 4-0, with Coutinho scoring and assisting during the game.
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