Leon Bailey admits he ‘could have left’ Premier League outfit Aston Villa last summer while also explaining why a move to Bayern Munich failed to materialise, speaking to the Let’s Be Honest podcast.
Given that Unai Emery such has an impressive track record when it comes to getting the best out of speedy forwards like the former Bayer Leverkusen talisman, it’s perhaps no real surprise that both Bailey and Ollie Watkins have been revitalised by the appointment of the former Arsenal coach as Steven Gerrard’s replacement at Villa Park.
Bailey scored during Emery’s Villa debut in the 3-1 victory over Manchester United. He then forced an own goal from Diogo Dalot against the same opposition four days later.
Aston Villa forward Leon Bailey could have joined Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich
“You know something, I could have left Aston Villa! I could have left for a bigger club. But you know what? It’s me that said I wanted to stay,” Bailey explains.
“I’m going to stay a long time because I want to make a show of them who called me an idiot. I’m going to show what I’m really capable of. I like challenges. This year, I’m doing my thing. Now look.”
“The only thing I see holding me back is injury. The (Villa fans) know I can unleash it and they’re seeing it now.”
Bayern Munich, per ESPN, submitted a staggering £53 million bid for a 20-year-old Bailey back in 2018; the Bundesliga giants identifying the one-time Genk starlet as the ideal replacement for the legendary Arjen Robben.
“We could have made a big move to Bayern Munich,” Bailey recalls. “Bayern came to my house to sign paperwork and all of that. (But) Leverkusen were never going to let me go. That was my first season (in Germany).
“They wanted me to replace Arjen Robben. Leverkusen never answered because they said; ‘next year will be our year’. They wanted me in their team, so (a move to Bayern) never happened.”
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