‘Would be an honour’: £9m ace names the club he’d leave Aston Villa for

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Aston Villa winger Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan has admitted that he would be ‘honoured’ to return to Egyptian giants Al Ahly when his time in the Premier League comes to an end, speaking to MBC Masr TV.

Say what you want about Trezeguet, the £9 million winger has certainly enjoyed his fair share of headline-making moments in Aston Villa colours.

Memories of his last-gasp decider in the League Cup semi-final victory over Leicester City will always send tingles down the spine of Villa supporters.  

And who could forget his match-winning brace against Crystal Palace in May 2020? Or his brilliantly-taken strike against Arsenal a week later? 

Jack Grealish might have been the preening posterboy of Aston Villa’s ‘Great Escape’ but Trezeguet arguably played an even greater role as Dean Smith’s side clawed their way out of the mire. 

Unfortunately, a difficult second season – and a lengthy spell on the sidelines following knee surgery – have prevented Trezeguet from building on those sepia-tinged heroics.  

The former Kasimpasa and Anderlecht winger has not been seen since April. And it remains to be seen what the future holds for him under new Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard. 

Does Trezeguet have a future at Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa?

“Al Ahly made me who I am today,” Trezeguet said, via King Fut, when quizzed about a potential return to the club where he started his professional career. 

“They are the reason I am where I am right now. We were raised to aim for victory in every possible competition.

“It would be an honour to return to Al Ahly. I will return to Al Ahly after achieving my dreams. I want to win every competition with them.”

Trezeguet is likely to find first-team opportunities difficult to come by when he returns to action, following the summer arrivals of Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia.  

It must be said, however, that Villa boss Gerrard values tenacity as much as he does technique, perspiration on an even keel with inspiration.

And Trezeguet’s willingness to run through brick walls in pursuit of three valuable points will do his standing no harm at all in the eyes of the former Rangers manager. 

Interestingly, another former Al Ahly youngster – Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny – has also been linked with a return to his old stomping ground of late.