Juventus defender Daniele Rugani wants to stay at the Serie A giants despite reported interest from Premier League strugglers Aston Villa, the Italy international’s agent Davide Torchia tells TuttoJuve.
Every club needs a player like Rugani.
One who, while far from a regular starter, can always be relied upon to step up when required. See Nacho at Real Madrid, for instance. James Milner at Liverpool.
In the absence of Leonardo Bonucci – not to mention the departed Matthijs de Ligt and Giorgio Chiellini – Rugani was handed a rare start alongside new signing Gleison Bremer against Sampdoria on Monday night, a new-look central defensive partnership keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.
But, at the age of 28, is Rugani content with his back-seat role at the Allianz Stadium? Amid interest from Aston Villa, per CMW, could a member of Juve’s supporting cast be lured away by the prospect of a bigger script and more screen-time elsewhere?
Aston Villa reportedly want Juventus defender Daniele Rugani
“It was not that he was put on and then removed from the market, but requests have arrived from some teams from Italy and abroad,” explains Torchia. “It is up to Juventus to make a decision based on the offers received.
“There have never been problems. Daniele has always stayed here very willingly. He wants to play for this team. He always wants to be available in this particular season, because of the World Cup in November.
“As the coach (Max Allegri) says, there will be room for everyone.”
Rugani, reportedly the subject of an £18 million bid from Wolves back in 2020, is one of a number of talented centre-halves on the radar of an Aston Villa side hoping to replace the crocked Diego Carlos before next week’s transfer deadline.
Southampton’s Jan Bednarek is another potential option. Ditto Victor Nelsson, a player Villa director Johan Lange knows from his time at Copenhagen in Denmark.
“For me, he played very well,” Torchia adds, hailing Rugani’s performance in that 0-0 draw away at Samp. “I saw a good understanding with Bremer. For them, it was important not to concede a goal,”
“As always, he is ready.”
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