In a surprising turn of events, Aston Villa’s latest signing, Clement Lenglet, opted to reject a potential move away from the club. Reports suggest that Barcelona had intended to sell Lenglet during the summer transfer window, but the player decided against it.
Villa, concerned about their defensive lineup following a long-term injury to club captain Tyrone Mings, swiftly secured Lenglet’s services on a season-long loan from Barcelona. The decision was praised by manager Unai Emery, who aimed to bolster his team’s defensive strength.
Lenglet is no stranger to the Premier League, as he had a loan spell at Tottenham from Barcelona in the previous season. During that time, the 28-year-old showcased his skills in 35 appearances across all competitions, with 26 of those being in the league.
The French defender may have the opportunity to make his Villa debut in their upcoming match against Crystal Palace at Villa Park this Saturday. Nonetheless, it is worth mentioning that Lenglet had other potential destinations on the horizon.
According to sources, Barcelona received an offer of €8 million (£6.9m) from Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, along with agreeing to pay Lenglet’s salary in full. Although Barcelona was ready to accept the deal, the player himself declined the opportunity as he held out for a European club offer.
In an intriguing twist, Lenglet’s conduct with Barcelona ultimately dissuaded the club from pressuring him into completing the move. Villa managed to secure the defender’s signature on loan, fending off competition from Sevilla and Real Betis, and securing an option to buy on the final day of the transfer window.
Unfortunately for Al Nassr, their failure to sign Lenglet prompted them to turn their attention to the Premier League. Consequently, they finalized a deal for Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte after their pursuit of Villa’s new acquisition came to naught.
