Aston Villa identify Ruggeri as Digne replacement
- Published
Aston Villa are closing in on signing Atletico Madrid defender Matteo Ruggeri.
A deal for the 24-year-old left-back is progressing and he is expected to move to Villa Park after just a season at the Metropolitano.
He will replace Lucas Digne, who completed an £8.5m return to Paris St-Germain on Sunday and could face Villa in the Super Cup on Wednesday night (20:00 BST).
Villa had been looking to revamp their left-back options this summer and were looking for more physicality in the position, having also been interested in AC Milan's Pervis Estupinan, who played for Unai Emery at Villarreal.
Ruggeri made 47 appearances for Atletico last season, after joining from Atalanta last summer and signing a five-year deal, as they finished fourth in La Liga and lost the Copa del Rey final on penalties to Real Sociedad.
He won the Europa League with Atalanta in 2024, while also being named in the competition's Team of the Season.
