Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has responded to the ongoing speculation surrounding Diego Carlos.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed that Diego Carlos will be part of his defensive plans for the upcoming season, despite ongoing speculation about the defender’s future.
The 31-year-old Brazilian has attracted interest from several clubs, including Italian giants AC Milan and teams in Saudi Arabia. However, the most concrete interest has come from Fulham, who had an initial offer for Carlos rejected by Villa earlier this month.
At the start of the summer, The Athletic reported that Aston Villa were open to selling Diego Carlos to address potential Profit and Sustainability concerns. However, following the sales of players like Douglas Luiz, Moussa Diaby, and more recently Cameron Archer, Villa are no longer in a hurry to part ways with the experienced defender.
Speaking to The Athletic ahead of Aston Villa’s opener against West Ham, Unai Emery explained: “Diego Carlos is completely with us now. Yes, we were considering the possibility of him leaving if a good offer came in from another club, and of course, we were open to listening.”
“But from this moment and today, he is with us because we are happy with Diego Carlos, and he had good performances last year. This year, the plan remains the same. While that could change if a good offer comes in, it’s not something I’m currently considering,” Emery added.
Carlos joined Aston Villa from Sevilla in the summer of 2022 for around £26 million. He was appointed as one of the vice-captains by former manager Steven Gerrard but struggled to make an impact due to an injury-plagued debut season, limiting him to just three Premier League appearances.
However, the former Europa League winner quickly became a key player last season, making 38 appearances across all competitions as Aston Villa secured a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
Looking ahead to the next season, Carlos will be aiming to secure a starting spot in Emery’s defense. He will face strong competition from Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, and a fully fit Tyrone Mings, all eager to make their mark as Aston Villa returns to the Champions League for the first time since 1983.