Aston Villa ‘have last laugh on Jhon Duran’ amid breaking news from Saudi Arabia
Jhon Duran left Aston Villa in the January transfer window to seal a dream move to the Saudi Premier League, but the switch has not turned out as planned.
The Villans had fought to keep hold of Duran, but were eventually worn down by the player and sanctioned a £64million transfer to Al-Nassr.
Aston Villa fans and pundits hit out at Duran’s sale, given the striker’s potential to transform into a world-beater.
However, it would later emerge that Emery had grown tired of Duran’s attitude, while the player himself also pushed for the move.
Now, less than six months after the deal was completed, it appears as if there’s trouble in paradise for the Colombian striker.
Duran struggling to settle in Saudi Arabia
Duran teamed up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr and enjoyed a good start with his new club, hitting three goals in his first two games.
In total, he has bagged 12 goals from 18 appearances since sealing his transfer away from Villa Park.
However, there are now doubts surrounding Duran’s long-term future at the Saudi club.
A report from Al-Riyadiya (11 June) suggests that the 21-year-old is suffering from personal difficulties that are affecting his mental health and technical stability.
The result may be that he leaves Al-Nassr on loan, or perhaps even on a permanent deal, in this summer’s transfer window.
Emery gets the last laugh after drawn-out Duran saga
It was the transfer drama of the January window, among Villa fans at least. Would Duran stay or would he go?
The saga may well have taken its toll on Emery. The Villa boss saw the talent in his young striker. He fought to keep him. But sometimes, if a player is desperate to leave, it’s better to cash in.
Yet, within months, the deal that Duran fought so hard for has turned out to be not right for him.
| Appearances | Minutes Played | Goals | Appearances |
| 18 | 1,541 | 12 | 0 |
It’s not clear what’s going on behind the scenes in Saudi Arabia. But it’s typically the players accused of having a bad attitude who end up in these sorts of situations.
So, now Duran is reportedly available for a loan move. Will he come back to England? Could he even reunite with Emery at Villa Park?
Probably not. It seems likely that the bridge has been burned between these two.