I was bought a fish tank by boss after sealing Aston Villa transfer – but I accidentally overfed them and they all died
ASTON VILLA star Ollie Watkins has revealed that he was given a fish tank by then-manager Dean Smith after signing for the club.
Things did not go to plan for the striker as he accidentally overfed them and they all died.
Watkins and Smith have a great relationship with the boss signing him at both Brentford and Villa.
Soon after joining forces at the Midlands-based club in 2020 for a fee of £28million, the player received an unusual present.
He had spoke about how he thought the big fish tanks found at the dentists were cool, so Smith decided to buy him a small one.
Waktins told Sky Sports: “He turns up three hours later and he’s bought me a fish tank.
“He’s bought me the fish tank and he said, ‘you’ve got to get the fish, when you come into training tomorrow make sure you’ve got some fish in that tank’.
“I’ve gone and got the fish, put the fish in and then I’ve Googled how many times do you feed a fish or whatever, it came up with different things.
“I came back from training that day and we’d overfed it. I’d fed it, my mate had fed it, came back and the fish were floating on the top.”
The seven-time capped English international jokes that Smith tells everyone the story, with the duo maintain a close bond despite him no longer being his manager.
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Watkins explained: “From day one, I got on so well with Dean.
“Since then, we have had a good relationship and I still speak to him now, still ring him and speak to him on the phone.
“To be fair, he has given me an opportunity wherever and I always say that I owe you and I’m forever grateful, but he says, ‘you don’t owe me anything’.”
Watkins is continuing his good form under gaffer Unai Emery and he has netted 11 goals this season.
He has scored in eight of his last ten games and is helping Aston Villa mount a push for European qualification with the club in seventh place in the Premier League.