KONSA CREDITS GERRARD FOR LIFTING PAL ARIBO UP TO ANOTHER LEVEL
EZRI KONSA recalls Joe Aribo as a shy kid who did all his talking with his feet.
In time, they’d develop an enduring friendship but, in the first instance, the Aston Villa defender remembers simply marvelling at Aribo’s talent, a unique mix of power and quick feet.
The pair had been thrown together as schoolkids in the youth ranks at Charlton and progressed to the first team together, both debuting in the 2016-17 season.
Konsa was first to break away, courtesy of a transfer across London to Brentford in 2018 and a year later Villa had paid £12million to lure him to the Midlands.
Around the same time, Aribo was moving under freedom of contract to Rangers, where he has flourished under Steven Gerrard.
Fortunate enough to escape the Covid outbreak that has affected the Ibrox squad in the past week or so, the 25-year-old will be handed a crucial role for the Premiership champions against Celtic today.
‘I was about 15 when I first met Joe,’ says Konsa, a nine-times capped England Under-21 international. ‘When he first came to the club, he was very quiet, a really shy guy.
‘As soon as we got together, we had a great connection and relationship but it took him quite a while to open up and start talking to everyone else.
‘But we knew he had great ability. And I remember thinking it was only a matter of time before he broke into Charlton’s first team.
‘The stuff he did on a pitch at times was unreal. It was like he was still playing street football.
‘So we knew he’d go far in the game. And watching him winning the league with Rangers last season, I just thought: ‘That’s fully deserved’.’
Now a full Nigerian international, Aribo has improved since moving to Rangers but continues to rotate between midfield and attacking roles in Gerrard’s side.
‘Joe’s style is unique,’ adds Konsa (pictured). ‘But when I was with him at Charlton, he did remind me of a leftfooted Yaya Toure.
‘You don’t get a lot of midfielders like Joe, there aren’t many around.
‘Like Toure, he’s got such great feet for a tall guy. But that languid style he’s got is fairly unique in the game.
‘Going to Rangers has helped a
lot. He’s playing in the Europa League every year as well, which is also a big platform for him.
‘But as his friend, for me it’s more about the way he carries himself. He’s such a humble guy.
‘Joe’s really focused on wanting to improve himself. He just loves the game.
‘And having Steven Gerrard as his manager at Rangers, it has made him go up another level.’
Aribo’s decision to move to Scotland was derided by his then manager Lee Bowyer. However, Konsa insists his friend has chosen a path that can still lead to the very top.
He added: ‘Joe was only ever going to improve by moving up there. I know he got a bit of criticism at the time because some people felt he should stay in England.
‘Joe can go as high as he wants and it feels like this certainly won’t be the last step in his career.
‘I’d love to see him in the Premier League one day.
‘Watching him play for Rangers, you can see how easy he makes the game look at times. He needed time to settle but he’s really kicked on.
‘I saw the goal he scored against Ross County last week, it was a great goal. But that’s what Joe Aribo can do for you.’