Aston Villa fans have every reason to be excited this season as Champions League football looms – and Enzo Barrenechea may be one to watch. Unai Emery took over as Aston Villa boss with the club seriously struggling under Steven Gerrard. Villa are now set to enter the Champions League group stage having finished fourth in the Premier League last season.
This has been a slightly odd summer for Villa though with Douglas Luiz leaving for Juventus and Moussa Diaby joining Al-Ittihad . Emery will miss those two players but Villa have also managed to strike some strong incoming deals. Amadou Onana has already impressed Unai Emery since arriving from Everton whilst left back Ian Maatsen has joined from Chelsea just months after playing in the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.
Robbie Earle on Enzo Barrenechea One of Villa’s more intriguing additions is midfielder Enzo Barrenechea. The midfielder was a real talent in Italy but has somewhat flown under the radar having not been a household name for Premier League supporters. The Argentinian has arrived from Juventus as part of the deal which saw Douglas Luiz move to Turin.
Pundit Robbie Earle has now moved to pick out Barrenechea as a talent to watch ahead of the Premier League season. Speaking on The 2 Robbies , former Premier League star Earle has picked out Barrenechea as a ‘little player’ who could become a real find for Villa. Earle has watched Barrenechea over the summer and was telling co-host Robbie Mustoe that Barrenechea is one to watch.
“Barrenechea is the midfield player, I’m telling you, he looks a little player,” said Earle. “He might be one of these little finds that Villa have,” he added. READ: 50 MOST LIKELY PREMIER LEAGUE, EFL AND EUROPEAN SUMMER 2024 FOOTBALL TRANSFERS Who is Villa talent Barrenechea? Barrenechea, 23, emerged with Newell’s Old Boys and Sion before joining the Juventus ranks in 2020.
Barrenechea only managed five first-team appearances for Juve before joining Frosinone on loan last term. The defensive midfielder impressed and Villa were more than happy to take him as Luiz departed. Hailed as ‘beautiful to watch’ by Marco Palma , Barrenechea has even been likened to Rodri and Sergio Busquets by Eusebio Di Francesco.
That is hugely exciting stuff with Barrenechea viewed as a defensive midfielder who can break up play and show real composure on the ball. Barrenechea will face a fight to break into the Villa side given Emery’s midfield options but he could make a real impact with Villa facing more games this season. There should be plenty of opportunities for Barrenechea to shine across the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Champions League this season.
Whether Barrenechea can live up to those Rodri and Busquets comparisons remains to be seen, but he will be looking to make a name for himself at Villa Park..
