Emi Buendia transfer claim as Aston Villa receive request
Aston Villa's Emi Buendia is reportedly of interest to Primera Division side River Plate
Argentinian giants River Plate are reportedly interested in signing Aston Villa's Emi Buendia this month.
The playmaker is yet to start a league game this season, but has impressed off the bench in Villa's recent wins over Leicester City, West Ham and Everton. Buendia suffered an ACL injury on the eve of the 2023/24 Premier League season and missed the whole of the last campaign as a result.
It has now been reported by DSports Radio that River have asked Villa about conditions of a possible move for Buendia, who is due to enter the final 12 months of his contract in the summer. The 28-year-old was of interest to a number of clubs in the summer, who wanted to take him on loan, but Unai Emery wanted to keep him in the squad and the player himself was happy to fight for minutes.
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Buendia's family are River Pate supporters and he has previously spoken about wanting to play for them in his career.
"I’m from River (fan of River Plate), a family of River since I was young," Buendia told ESPN Argentina in 2023. "I like to follow them, I try to follow Argentine football even though it costs because of the time difference.
"I always dreamed of playing with a ball, playing with River. I never closed the door but today, my head is in Europe. Tomorrow, we will see. I would like it because it’s the club I support but we will see in the future."
Buendia joined Villa in the summer of 2021 from Norwich City in a deal worth around £33m and has made a total of 95 appearances for the club in all competitions.