Signing for Aston Villa back in 2014 for £5m, Carlos Sanchez doesn’t particularly want to return to the Midlands if he can avoid it.
The 30-year-old defensive midfielder, currently on loan to Fiorentina until the end of the season, is enjoying life in Italy, becoming a important part of Paulo Sousa’s first-team plans.
Failing to appear in just four games this season, it seems the Serie A side will eventually have to pay Steve Bruce and co. to make the transfer permanent come the end of the season.
Triggered if the player appears in more than 50% of Fiorentina’s games this season, the option, however, isn’t something Sanchez is thinking about right now.
Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the Aston Villa loanee said: “I’m not counting (the number of appearances). My redemption depends on the number of times I’m on the pitch, but I’m focused on work. I need to do my best, because I want to stay here. For me, the only thing that matters is if the team wins.”
Sanchez, who played 56 times for Aston Villa in his two years there, has been converted to a centre-back for the past two games by Sousa, and it’s working.
Fiorentina pulled off a great 2-1 win against Juventus with the Colombian in the centre of defence, a position he remained in during the next game, as La Viola comfortably beat Chievo 3-0 away from home.
Things are going well for the defensive midfielder, as the player himself explains: “I’ve said it for a while now. I’m happy here, and the family are comfortable here. Because of that, I want to stay.”
