The following article appeared in yesterdays El Mundo Deportivo. Please excuse the translation.
McGeady, an ‘M’ with Maradona and Messi
Aiden McGeady is a blonde version of the imperial Diego and Leo, but - for now - without the media exposure of the Barcelona and ex-Barcelona cracks that he admires.
Scots attacker himself, who nevertheless defended the colours of Ireland, explains, "I was just three months old when Maradona won the World Cup-86, but he always fascinated me. I studied him and I spent hours on the tapes that I had collected. I went out and practised with a golf ball and a tennis ball, and it is fantastic, because then you control the ball better. " He says quietly with no sign of bigheadedness that he has been able to have 500 touches with the tennis ball followed by 200 with golf, alternating also both feet.
McGeady loves the way that Maradona had to get past his opponents, as now does Messi. The way he likes to play, his technique is much more than just trickery. Slipping in that apart from him only Ronaldinho is fully capable of do something well (indicating Aiden) his father John, (ex- Sheffield United), using a little wit and enjoyment, to paraphrase the man himself, Johan Cruyff.
McGeady has been compared with Cristiano Ronaldo (ManU) for his explosiveness and months after appearing on the scene with Celtic, in a match against Milan in Champions dating back to April 2004, a portion of the fans dubbed him 'Aidendinho' an allusion to Ronaldihno, Barcelona.
From small matches combined with the team at his school, with the club, "always playing on Saturday and Sunday, so I became hardened." And now, according to his coach Gordon Strachan, a professional of physical preparation, particularly strengthening his upper body.
At 15 he wanted to join the Celtic first team, but they said wait a little bit, and at 16 he said 'no' to Arsenal to avoid a 'one-on-one' with nostalgia for Glasgow. On the other hand, he went with Eire in the under-15 category, to debut with the full team in 2004. Being Irish his paternal grandfather 'defected' to his native Scotland, which made him stick to defend those colors in the lower teams.
Aiden has always had things very clear. If Messi, who because of his involvement in the Copa America enjoyed holidays, had participated in the Scottish stage last summer, he would have gone to see him live. And when he emphasised that with cuts and supersonic football is not enough to succeed, and perfected his touch style to put his incredible technique in the service of the team.
For example last Sunday, when McGeady made a 'roulette' in the opposition area with three defenders around him, and as if a string was attached to the ball crossed it to top scorer McDonald. A marvel of action, without nerve-Aiden not knowing how brilliant this was - and making it clear that Messi or 'El Kun' are not the only heirs of Diego Armando Maradona.
If there was ever a sign of how far we have progressed in reclaiming our European pedigree then this is it! McGeady is not the first twinkle-toed winger to be acclaimed by the Spanish Press, lets hope he can produce a display to match the praise!
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt