“Ally McCoist Shares Bold Take on Why Bukayo Saka Falls Short of ‘World Class’ Status”
“Ally McCoist Reveals Why He Believes Bukayo Saka Isn’t Yet ‘World Class'”
Pundit Ally McCoist has shared his thoughts on why Arsenal star Bukayo Saka, despite his impressive form, has not yet reached the status of a world-class player.
McCoist stirred debate by praising Saka’s talent but hesitating to place him in the elite category on the global stage. While Saka has been instrumental under Mikel Arteta, helping Arsenal in their Premier League title pursuits over the past two seasons, McCoist believes the 22-year-old still has a way to go before being considered world class.
Saka has delivered standout performances this season, with three goals and seven assists in 10 matches. However, as rising stars like Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal gain recognition, the question arises of whether Saka belongs in the world-class conversation.
Jamie O’Hara, a former Tottenham Hotspur player, argued that Palmer and Yamal might be ahead of Saka in their development, a sentiment echoed by McCoist. “Saka is a brilliant player and absolutely vital to Arsenal,” McCoist told talkSPORT. “But when I think of world-class players, I’m thinking about the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Beckenbauer, and Cruyff. Saka has the potential to reach that level, but he’s not there yet.”
During a discussion with presenter Jeff Stelling, who suggested Saka could start for any top club, including Manchester City, McCoist pushed back, questioning whether Saka would displace City’s Jeremy Doku or Jack Grealish. “Saka is fantastic, but does he get into City’s starting XI? I’m not convinced he would replace Doku or Grealish,” McCoist remarked.
Despite the debate, McCoist maintained his admiration for Saka, though he questioned the comparison to truly world-class players like Mohamed Salah. “I really like Saka, but if we call him world class, where does that leave someone like Salah?”
