Back in June, Record reported Aston Villa had made contact to sign Fredrik Aursnes but Benfica refused to open talks over a potential transfer because they had no plans to sell the midfielder.
The Villans would have had to trigger his €50m release clause to secure his services in the last window but they didn’t exercise that option.
According to TV2, the 27-year-old wouldn’t have fancied a move to Aston Villa even if they had activated his clause, which is of course easy to say now.
“I got the rumours, yes, but I don’t really think there was anything more to it,” he said.
When immediately asked if he was tempted to join Unai Emery’s side, Aursnes responded with a firm “No”.
The Benfica player further insisted that he wouldn’t have considered joining Unai Emery’s side even if they had doubled his salary.
“No. I don’t think it would have been tempting. Money means a little, but I’m happy at Benfica. I am extremely happy where I am now, and right now there is nothing I could imagine replacing Benfica with,” the Norwegian explained.
Aursnes was part of the Benfica squad that won the title last season, when he managed three goals and five assists from 44 games. His contract lasts until 2027 and he insists that he has no plans to leave the Portuguese club.
