Aston Villa captain John McGinn has made a bold declaration, labelling his midfield teammate Boubacar Kamara as one of the most underrated footballers in Europe.
High Praise from the Villa Captain
The Scottish international's glowing assessment came following Villa's recent Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest. McGinn expressed sheer disbelief that Kamara, a French international, is consistently overlooked for his national team.
"I've said it many times, I look at the France squad getting announced every time and the fact he doesn't get near it is mental," McGinn insisted. "It speaks about their quality, but we are very fortunate to have one of the most underrated players in Europe."
A Masterstroke of a Transfer
Kamara, now 26, joined the Birmingham club on a free transfer from Marseille in the summer of 2022. McGinn was quick to highlight the incredible value of this deal, describing it as "one of the best bits of business this club has ever done."
Since his arrival, the defensive midfielder has made 87 appearances for Villa, overcoming significant injury setbacks. His first season was disrupted by two separate injuries, and he then suffered a serious ACL injury during the 2023/24 campaign, which ended his season in February. Despite his absence, Villa remarkably secured qualification for the Champions League that year.
Emery's Trust and a Vital Return
Kamara fought back to fitness last season, making 41 appearances after returning from his knee injury in October. His performances were instrumental in helping Unai Emery's side reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Manager Emery echoed his captain's sentiments, though from a different perspective. When asked if Kamara was underrated outside of Villa Park, Emery stated: "Not for us, not for me. We extended his contract last summer because we know his capacity and potential. He is still young."
The Spaniard praised Kamara's resilience, noting: "He had an injury last year which saw him out for six or seven months, but he has been fantastic since coming back and his progression means he is playing better and better."
Kamara returned to the starting line-up for the Forest match after missing Villa's previous game at Arsenal due to suspension. McGinn concluded his praise by highlighting the player's all-round ability: "Bouba is not only brilliant off the ball, but what a footballer he is."
