Overview
- Ruggeri’s agents met Atlético director Mateu Alemany and the 24-year-old was left out of the club’s first-choice training group, a development reported on Tuesday that is being treated as a signal his exit is possible.
- Multiple outlets say Aston Villa have formally registered interest in Ruggeri and are trying to complete a deal quickly to bolster their left-back options.
- Atlético’s willingness to sell follows the arrival of Álex Grimaldo, which pushed Ruggeri down the pecking order, and the club’s need to raise money after recent summer spending.
- The player is weighing Villa’s offer against reported interest from Serie A clubs such as Juventus and Roma, with earlier public denials by his agents now contradicted by their meeting at Atlético’s training base.
- Villa’s urgency is driven by Lucas Digne’s expected move to Paris Saint-Germain and will open opportunities for Ian Maatsen at left-back while Atlético would use proceeds to prioritise other signings, likely a centre-back.