{"id":345099,"date":"2025-12-12T20:58:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T20:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/345099\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T20:58:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T20:58:16","slug":"simons-was-surprised-by-ex-red-james-garners-abilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/345099\/","title":{"rendered":"Simons was \u2018surprised\u2019 by ex-Red James Garner\u2019s abilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Xavi Simons has admitted he was \u2018surprised\u2019 by James Garner\u2019s abilities in the matches they faced one another.<\/p>\n

The midfielder, currently plying his trade with Everton, spent 13 years working his way through Manchester United\u2019s academy ranks before making a permanent move to Merseyside in September 2022.<\/p>\n

How James Garner made a name for himself(Photo by Will Russell\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Garner made only seven first-team appearances for the Red Devils after making his senior bow in February 2019, most of which came in the 2019\/2020 Europa League group stage.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the Birkenhead-born star rose to prominence during his spells away from Old Trafford, most notably during the one-and-a-half seasons he spent with Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n

He played an influential role in Forest earning promotion to the top flight following a 23-year absence, making 41 league appearances (36 of which came from the off) and returning four goals and eight assists throughout the 2021\/2022 term.<\/p>\n

That subsequent summer when Everton came knocking, Garner green-lit the move<\/a>, with United earning \u00a315 million through the sale of their academy graduate.<\/p>\n

Reports in recent weeks have suggested United would consider re-signing Garner to bolster their midfield<\/a> with a familiar face when his contract expires next year. However, the Toffees are doing their utmost behind the scenes to prevent him from leaving on a free by tying him down to another long-term deal.<\/p>\n

What Simons had to say about Garner\"Amad(Photo by Alex Livesey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

When speaking with United legend Wayne Rooney on his BBC Sport show<\/a>, Tottenham Hotspur starlet Simons singled out Garner as one player whose abilities shocked him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one that surprised me was, I guess, [at] Everton, was\u2026 I knew him because of the youth teams he played in at Manchester United, James Garner,\u201d\u00a0said Simons.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew from the\u2026 he\u2019s older than me, but I knew [him]. Now, when I played against him, I felt like, \u2018Okay, technical with the ball, I think he\u2019s really, really good.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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