TEAM-MATE ‘HAPPY’ FOR £35M STAR AS HE AGREES ASTON VILLA TRANSFER
Villarreal team-mate Yeremi Pino insists he is ‘happy’ for Pau Torres as the Spain international agrees a £35 million move to Premier League outfit Aston Villa.
On paper at least, Aston Villa is perhaps not the destination many had in mind for Pau Torres when the Villarreal-born centre-half was blossoming into one of Europe’s best young defenders a couple of seasons back, reportedly catching the eye of Manchester United, Liverpool and more.
But, like Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, Villa are a team – and a club – on the up. European football is returning to Villa Park after over a decade away. Villa have the ambition and the spending powerto rival almost anyone in the Premier League these days.
And, in Unai Emery, they also possess a genuinely elite-level tactician capable of taking this talented and previously-underachieving squad to a whole new level.
Torres knows that first-hand, having helped Emery’s Villarreal defeat Bayern Munich, Atalanta and Juventus on route to the Champions League semi-finals in 2021/22.
With a £35 million deal now agreed, per The Guardian, Torres will soon be sharing a dressing room with the former Arsenal, Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain coach once again.
“I don’t know if it’s official now. I’ve seen (the rumours). If it’s true, then I’m happy for him,” Villarreal forward Yeremi Pino tells La Provincia.
“If he does (join Aston Villa), it will be because it is the best decision for him.
“Regarding Emery, he is a great coach. Pau knows that he will compete for great things, as we do at Villarreal CF. It is a change of scenery. The Premier is a good league.”
A cultured, left-footed centre-half, Torres could potentially take captain Tyrone Mings’ place in the Aston Villa XI.
But, as former England midfielder Danny Murphy points out, competition for places will be necessary if Villa are to balance domestic and European exploits next term.
“Good player,” Murphy tells talkSPORT (28 June, 12pm). “That would be a hell of a signing. (Torres is) a lovely footballer. Good size, (he’s got) presence.”
