Aston Villa are poised to wave goodbye to a “wonderful footballer” pretty shortly, as a new report reveals this week.
Aston Villa turn corner under Unai Emery after disastrous start
It took Unai Emery’s side five Premier League games to score their first goal of the season, with Matty Cash’s long-range pile driver against newly-promoted Sunderland finally opening their account.
After a very difficult summer transfer window marred by issues with PSR, their severe lack of attacking impetus had many supporters fearing the worst, but in a huge sigh of relief for the Villans, they’re starting to hit an excellent run of form.
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace
Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham
Aston Villa 2-1 Burnley
Since Cash burst the net at the Stadium of Light, Villa have sealed two wins from two of their opening Europa League games, whilst securing precious back-to-back Premier League wins against Fulham and Burnley.
“I’m very happy with how we are progressing, the development of some and we planned it being serious and being disciplined,” Emery, who has now won 80 of his 150 games in charge, said after their 2-1 victory over Burnley.
“The players responded very well and we achieved three points. I am very happy with the players. We are getting balance in the league, we are under expectation for our demands.
“We know the Premier League is so, so difficult, and to keep the same consistency that we had the last in the last three years is not easy. But we want to feel comfortable, getting the way progressively after our poor start.
“There is still work to do, and still players to add to us, getting better, getting confidence.”
The recent departure of Monchi, who left his role as Aston Villa sporting director, also marks the beginning of a new era, with former Real Sociedad chief Roberto Olabe brought in as Villa’s replacement.
Aston Villa's president of football operations, Monchi.
In one of his final acts as the club’s ‘president of football operations’, Monchi agreed to let midfielder Enzo Barrenechea join José Mourinho’s Benfica on loan with an obligation to buy.
Enzo Barrenechea on the verge of permanent Aston Villa exit to Benfica
Interestingly, according to A Bola this week, the conditions of his loan-to-buy clause mean that Barrenechea is just one game away from becoming a permanent Benfica player and leaving Villa Park for good.
Apparently, all requirements for the permanent option to be triggered are nearly met, including appearances, and Villa are about to receive a £10 million payment for the Argentine, on top of the £2.5 million loan fee they got in the summer, right after he makes another cameo.
Indeed, once Barrenechea is given his next nod for Benfica, he’ll have met the 15 games required to activate his permanent move to Portugal.
The 24-year-old joined Villa in a swap deal last year with Douglas Luiz heading the other way to Juventus, but he hasn’t made a single appearance for Villa.
He was sent out on loan to Valencia in his debut season, where he seriously impressed for the La Liga side, though it is now Mourinho who’s poised to snap up Villa’s forgotten “wonderful footballer”.
“You called me to talk about my favourite player,” said coach Andrea Bonatti, who worked with the player at Juve’s youth academy.
“He is a wonderful footballer. He has many virtues. He is very technical, he controls the ball very well under pressure, he has that ability that comes from futsal, which allows him to have good ball coverage. He has an excellent short game with both legs. And a great long movement, when you have to give speed to the game.
“He is very brave in aerial play, in heading. He is very helpful in defensive and offensive actions in the air. He covers a lot of ground, he is a 6 that gives a lot of balance, that frees up a lot for the teammate next to him. He is always on alert, with a great tactical sense, giving orders to avoid transitions against the rival team.”
