Benfica midfielder Fredrik Aursnes insists he would have turned down a £42 million move to Aston Villa even if the Premier League outfit have offered to double his salary.
Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland may be the face of the Norwegian national team right now but, while Frederik Aursnes is not exactly a household name just yet, the former Feyenoord star’s outstanding performances throughout 2022/23 have caused some to wonder whether the Scandinavian nation have not two but three genuinely ‘world-class’ players at their disposal these days.
One of the most underrated footballers in all of Europe, it’s testament to Aursnes’ impact at Primeira Liga champions Benfica that the departure of Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea midway through last term was not – as some had suggested – a fatal blow to their title ambitions.
Far from it, in fact.
According to Record, the late-blooming 27-year-old played his way onto Aston Villa’s radar. But, even if an ambitious, deep-pocketed Villa side had triggered the £42 million release clause in Aursnes’ contract while offering to double his salary, the one-time Molde star would have been no rush to pack his bags.
Aston Villa fail to lure Fredrik Aursnes away from Benfica
“I heard about the rumours, yes. But I don’t really think there was anything more to it,” Aursnes now tells TV2.
“No (I would not have joined Aston Villa). I don’t think it would have been tempting. Money means little. I am happy in Benfica.
“I am extremely happy where I am now, and right now there is nothing I could think of replacing Benfica with. (Leaving) is not something I’m thinking about right now. Benfica is a fantastic club, and it is not something I want to change for anything.”
Villa have a long way to go still
Aston Villa completed four high-profile signings over the summer in Moussa Diaby, Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Clement Lenglet, but their inability to land a host of other big-name targets was proof of how far Unai Emery’s side still have to go.
Marco Asensio and Manuel Ugarte opted for PSG instead. Nico Williams, meanwhile, will sign a new deal at Athletic Bilbao despite being offered an eye-watering £115,000-a-week at Villa Park.
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