Agbonlahor swipes at Tuanzebe after update today on Aston Villa exit
Axel Tuanzebe was never going to be good enough to break into the Aston Villa starting XI, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Aston Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer claimed Tuanzebe was decent back up but a move away makes sense for his career.
A Villa source has told Football Insider the versatile defender is set to sign for Napoli on loan from Man United after being recalled by Villa.
Napoli will play a £500,000 loan fee which could rise to almost £1million with performance-related add-onstya.
Tuanzebe rejoined Villa in the summer and featured in 11 games for the club, including six Premier League starts.
However, he played just eight minutes of football under new manager Steven Gerrard.
“I understand Tuanzebe,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He was never going to break into that side. He’s not good enough, he’s just not good enough. He needs to go somewhere else and it makes sense for him.
“For Villa, I’m sure they would have loved to have kept him because he’s good back up to have when he’s needed.
“Going forward, he’s never going to start for Villa, I don’t think he’s good enough.”
Tuanzebe will end his time at Villa with 46 appearances across all competitions in three spells with the club.
The 24-year-old was part of the side that won promotion from the Championship via the play-offs in the 2018-19 campaign.
In other news, an ex-Premier League referee has revealed an Aston Villa star should face retrospective punishment after ‘outrageous cheating’.