Miguel Almiron, after being named the Premier League’s October Player of the Month, denied that Jack Grealish has fueled his extraordinary run of form.
Almiron has experienced a comeback in his Newcastle career this year, scoring eight goals in all—six in just one month—to help the team move up the standings under Eddie Howe.
Fans had joked that Almiron used what Jack Grealish told Bernardo Silva about him at Manchester City’s championship parade in May as a motivation to improve himself.
When Silva questioned Grealish about the factors that led to City’s victory over Villa, he responded: ‘There were two. Riyad (Mahrez), take him off the pitch, as soon as possible. He played like (Miguel) Almiron.”
‘Secondly, he (pointing at Bernardo Silva), he has been so good this season but get him off the pitch.’
When asked on Friday if the comment had motivated him to achieve previously unheard-of levels for himself this season, Almiron responded to Sky Sports that the prize was the result of his own diligence.
‘I don’t think anything that Jack [Grealish] said has got anything to do with the great form and performances that we’ve been showing as a group of players,’ he said.
‘Jack is a great player first and foremost and I wish him all the best, but this success is down to work, work and even more hard work.’
Almiron previously admitted to the Newcastle Chronicle that he did not pay too much attention to the remarks, preferring to focus on his own performance.
‘All that incident did really was highlight that when that type of thing happens here it shows the greatness of the Newcastle supporters,’ he said.
‘I actually did not pay too much attention to the comments at first I will be honest because I prefer to just get on with my job and do my work in silence. I just get on with my work and the only thing that matters to me is to improve myself.’
‘When you achieve things in life it only comes through hard work and sacrifice anyway, especially in football, it’s never through words.’
‘At the time when the (Grealish) stuff all came up, I was then filled with happiness and pride with the way the Newcastle supporters rallied around me.’
‘They showed their support at that point and it was really important.’
He continued by saying he had no ill will toward the City star.
‘Would I shake his hand the next time we line up to play Man City. Yes, I would’, he admitted.
‘Of course, I’d shake hands with him, whenever we play against Man City without a shadow of a doubt.
‘Like I have said and as I keep on insisting to people Jack Grealish is a great player and I just wish him all the best.’
Newcastle are now third in the league, seven points behind league-leaders Arsenal, thanks to Almiron’s outstanding month. They take on Chelsea on Saturday night in an effort to surpass Graham Potter’s team by nine points.
Miguel Almiron
Miguel ngel Almirón Rejala, a Paraguayan professional football player, was born on February 10, 1994. He plays attacking midfield for Newcastle United of the Premier League and the Paraguayan national team.
He is the Premier League’s player of the month for October 2022.
Almirón started his professional career at Cerro Porteo before switching to Lan’s in 2015. He signed a contract with Atlanta United for $8 million after winning the 2016 Argentine Primera División.
In both of his seasons in Major League Soccer, he received honors such as MLS Newcomer of the Year and inclusion in the league’s Best XI.
He signed for Newcastle for £21 million, a club record and the biggest sum ever paid for an MLS player, after helping Atlanta win the MLS Cup in 2018.
