Aston Villa qualified for the Champions League last season and needed some changes to be prepared for Europe’s elite club competition.
For various reasons, some of those changes have probably been a little more severe than many will have expected. Douglas Luiz very much wanted to go to Juventus, which kicked off that whole drama, and both Aston Villa and Moussa Diaby have been tempted by Al-Ittihad’s money.
It’s a shame Diaby won’t be able to show what he could do in a second season for Aston Villa, and RMC report he’s arrived today for his medical with Al-Ittihad.
Of course, there’s an upside to it all, with Aston Villa said to be receiving €59m for the player.
He’s set to get a five year contract and can count Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante among his new teammates.
Diaby played 54 matches for Unai Emery’s side last season, scoring 10 goals and contributing a further nine assists.
Once he’s passed his Al-Ittihad medical the two clubs can prepare their announcements.
