‘Getting closer’ – Ezri Konsa reacts to Amadou Onana as Aston Villa exit looms
Ezri Konsa reacted to a message from Aston Villa teammate amidst the Midlands side’s pre-season tour of the USA.
Unai Emery‘s side are currently stateside, undergoing preparations for the 2025/26 season in the hopes they can once again compete for European football.
However, their pre-season campaign has gotten off to a disappointing start, as the Villains lost to Walsall and Hansa Rostock, before drawing against Eintracht Frankfurt in Louisville.
The team’s results on the pitch are mirroring the situation the club find themselves in off of it.
Aston Villa received a fine from UEFA for failing to comply with their financial rules, and face a ban from European competition if they make losses exceeding €85million (£74m) next season.
The knock-on impact of those sanctions has led to Emery’s side making just two signings this summer in the form of Yasin Ozcan from Kasimpasa, and Marco Bizot from Stade Brestois, and the expectation is that the club will need to sell before being able to buy.
Amadou Onana shares message with Aston Villa fans
As Villa try and find their feet this summer, Onana shared several images of himself in training on Instagram, captioned: “Getting closer and closer”.
The post was liked by Konsa, showing his support for his Belgian teammate and the pair will be keen to continue working hard in an effort to turn things around for their club this summer.
Amadou Onana in limbo at Aston Villa
Football Insider Verdict
Sources told Football Insider on 18 June that Aston Villa were considering selling a big-name player such as Onana to avoid a sanction for failing the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
Ultimately, the Villains instead chose to sell their women’s side to chairman Nassef Sawiris, avoiding a sanction.
However, that did not save them from UEFA, who do not allow such sales to be registered as a profit on a club’s accounting books.
The situation leaves Onana in a tricky spot. The midfielder was not a first-choice for Emery last season, and the knowledge that his club were willing to move him on this summer will be an unpleasant one.
But if no suitors come calling between now and the end of the window, the 23-year-old will be forced to refocus his efforts on earning a place in Villa’s starting XI, or look for a move in the winter.