Watkins apologised for refusing to play – Emery
Manager Unai Emery said Ollie Watkins apologised for refusing to play for Aston Villa on Sunday as he paid an emotional tribute to the departing striker. The 30-year-old is expected in Saudi Arabia on Friday to complete a £51m move to Al-Hilal, with Villa poised to finalise the signing of Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson for £65m as his replacement. Emery […]
Unai Emery, Aston Villa's manager, expressed his gratitude to departing striker Ollie Watkins for his apology regarding his absence from the team's match against Brighton. The 30-year-old English forward is set to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in a £51m deal. Emery praised Watkins for his outstanding performances with Villa, noting he is the club's record Premier League scorer with 91 goals.
The manager also mentioned that the squad accepted Watkins' apology for his decision to sit out the Brighton match. Emery praised Watkins not only as a player but also as a person, describing him as a "fantastic guy" before bidding him farewell. Emery confirmed the signing of Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea for £65m as Watkins' replacement, and the club is working to register Jackson for the upcoming match against Arsenal on Monday.
The manager urged fans to support the club's decision to rebuild the team, despite the loss of several key players this summer. Villa recently signed Leon Goretzka from Bayern Munich on a free transfer, adding another experienced player to the squad.
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