Transfer-linked Aston Villa man reveals he always wanted to stay: ‘This club is my home’
Emi Buendía has revealed his true feelings about not leaving Aston Villa in the summer transfer window.
Villa brought Buendía on as a half-time substitute on Sunday with the scores level between the struggling Premier League side and Fulham at Villa Park. The Argentine scored one goal and assisted another within ten minutes of coming on, steering Villa to a first league win of the season.
It was a remarkable turnaround after a turbulent transfer window in which Villa made a series of moves to cut their wage bill including the termination of Philippe Coutinho’s contract, loan deals for Leander Dendoncker and Leon Bailey, and the unpopular sale of Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United.
Buendía escaped the chop and, after a long-term injury and a loan away from Villa Park in the second half of last season, has made an unlikely resurgence into Unai Emery’s first team thinking.
“I wanted to impact the game as quickly as possible. Even having a few losses of the ball with the first touches I had, trying to get the rhythm of the game,” Buendía told the media after Sunday’s match.
“At this level it is hard but I keep trying, keep asking for the ball to do my game. I managed to find [John] McGinn with some advantage, obviously he made the rest with a driving run and an amazing shot from outside the box.”
Buendía added a goal of his own to make it 3-1 and settle the game down for Villa, who were reportedly willing to let him leave for Leeds United in the summer.
The 28-year-old apparently quashed the move, electing instead to stay at Villa and fight for what seemed at the time to be an unlikely place in the team.
“We had a clear meeting with the club and coaches to get the idea together,” added the one-cap Argentine international.
“Always it was my preference to stay here because I really feel this club is my home, and I feel myself close with everyone at the club and the fans because I think I can help this club to be even better in the future.”
The unforeseen revival of Buendía
Buendía joined Villa from Norwich City in 2023 as one of the most highly rated second division players of the modern era, but has been unable to fully live up to his own standards as he’s struggled with injury and Villa’s quick progress without him.
This season, Buendía has become an unexpectedly important player. He’s featured in seven of Villa’s eight matches and has contributed more than just his goal and assists against Fulham.
Villa’s resurgent attacking midfielder has attempted ten shots in all and created six chances for his teammates. He’s also showed his tenacity out of possession, making nine tackles and winning four aerial duels despite his lack of height.
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