Rio Ferdinand’s current reward of Ollie Watkins has added recent momentum to the rising dialog round Aston Villa’s Premier League title push and the striker’s rising standing in trendy soccer.
Talking on his podcast in a video posted by Rio Ferdinand Presents by way of their official X account, the previous Manchester United defender delivered a glowing evaluation of the Villa ahead, describing him as a participant he would personally pay to observe, a press release that carries weight given Ferdinand’s expertise on the highest stage of the sport.
Watch the video under:
Softfootball understands that Aston Villa’s spectacular 2025–26 marketing campaign has been pushed largely by Watkins’ consistency in entrance of aim. serving to his workforce within the membership’s current 2-1 victory towards Arsenal, adopted by a 3-2 win towards West Ham within the Premier League.
Over the previous couple of seasons, Villa have more and more seemed to Watkins in decisive moments, and his affect has continued to develop because the strain has elevated.
Ferdinand highlighted this evolution by specializing in Watkins’ mentality as a lot as his skill. He defined why the striker now belongs in conversations about elite gamers within the trendy sport.
He stated:
He’s a participant in trendy soccer now at present, I’d pay to observe. If he ups these numbers and stats, I believe you’re coping with a participant that may compete on a world stage as a result of I believe he’s simply, he’s acquired so many elements to his sport that you just go, that’s onerous to play towards.
He went on to notice how Villa has relied closely on Watkins within the final two or three years, pointing to a second in a participant’s profession the place confidence shifts and duty is totally embraced.
In response to Ferdinand, Watkins seems to be coming into that part. He described the striker’s rising authority on the pitch as a shoulders-back second, the place a participant calls for the ball and units the tone for the workforce.
Ferdinand added:
having that little bit of a shoulders again second, hear, I’m that man, man. Why do you retain taking part in it there? And I believe he appears to be morphing into that mode now, and he’s going to be inflicting Thomas Tuchel points in the summertime, I believe, if he continues this kind. Mentality is likely one of the largest elements that separates the highest, high, high gamers from the nice gamers.
Ferdinand’s reward appears to transcend admiration. By emphasising Watkins’ mentality and significance to Aston Villa, he’s advocating for wider recognition of a participant acting at a excessive stage outdoors the league’s conventional powerhouses.
Ferdinand additionally advised that Watkins may trigger Thomas Tuchel points in selecting his squad for the World Cup subsequent 12 months, with the excessive stage of expertise on the England nationwide workforce. Watkins can’t be left behind if his type continues.
As Aston Villa proceed their push for his or her first league title since 1981, Watkins stays on the centre of the narrative. Rio Ferdinand’s endorsement reinforces the concept that the England worldwide isn’t just having fun with run of type however is growing right into a participant able to competing on the very highest stage.
