Aston Villa emerge as surprise suitor for Matteo Ruggeri — reports

Matteo Ruggeri left-back of Atletico de Madrid and Italy during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on May 5, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Per reports in Spain and England on Tuesday, Aston Villa are interested in bringing Matteo Ruggeri to the Premier League, and the Atlético de Madrid left-back is contemplating whether to accept an offer from the Birmingham-based club or hold out for a return to Serie A.

class="wp-block-paragraph">First advanced by Isaac Suárez in Marca, Aston Villa’s interest in Ruggeri comes two weeks after the player’s agent declared that his client was going nowhere this summer, even after Atlético completed the signing of Spain international Alejandro Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen. Tullio Tinti and Manuel Montipó, Ruggeri’s representatives, were present Tuesday at Atleti’s training session in Majadahonda, where the 24-year-old worked with the substitutes and Madrileño players instead of the starting team.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Suárez describes the negotiations as fast-moving, and Villa want to sign the player “immediately.” He claims that a transfer could be done “in the next few hours,” which in reality means “sometime in the next few days.”

🚨🇮🇹 JUST IN: All parties are now aware of the Matteo Ruggeri–Aston Villa situation after his agents were seen at Atlético’s training ground on Monday afternoon.

They watched training after holding a meeting with Mateu Alemany, observing the opening 15 minutes of the session in… pic.twitter.com/1aQRSkOmZ4

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) August 4, 2026Ruggeri had an uneven debut season in Madrid after Atleti signed him from Atalanta last year. After a difficult start, he found form in January and ended the season with seven assists across 47 appearances in all competitions. But according to The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, Ruggeri first the “physical profile of left-back” that Villa manager Unai Emery wants, as veteran Lucas Digne is set to join Paris Saint-Germain in the coming days. Emery’s preferred target reportedly is Milan’s Pervis Estupiñán, but negotiations for his former Villarreal pupil have not progressed.

class="wp-block-paragraph">It is not yet known how much money Villa are offering to sign Ruggeri. But seeing as he has four years left on his contract and was signed initially for around €20 million, the chances are good that Atlético will turn a profit by selling Ruggeri to England. With Grimaldo soon to join following his post-World Cup holiday, the club views Ruggeri’s sale as necessary to make further additions to the team — including the much-desired signing of a center-back.

Atletico Madrid defender Matteo Ruggeri among the left-back options being considered by #AVFC. 24yo is within a small pool – includes Pervis Estupinan, who Villa have yet to agree a fee on – with Ruggeri fitting physical profile of LB Villa want. @TheAthleticFC…

— Jacob Tanswell (@J_Tanswell) August 4, 2026If Ruggeri leaves, Dávid Hancko is expected to serve as cover for Grimaldo after the club sold Julio Díaz to Sevilla, a strategy that underscores Mateu Alemany’s intention to sign a high-level central defender (as opposed to replacing Ruggeri with a like-for-like substitute on the market). Atlético Madrileño left-back Arnau Solà, who debuted in LaLiga for Villarreal in 2025, signed for the reserve team last month and would be another option behind Hancko.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Alemany will receive more funds in the next week, after the Atlético board convenes for a shareholders’ meeting on Friday to rubber-stamp a €100 million capital injection; of that €100 million, €40 million will be dedicated to signings, while the rest will be spent on the Ciudad del Deporte, set to open next year.