AS Roma and Aston Villa have agreed to cut short Leon Bailey’s loan deal.
The winger was spotted at an airport in Rome on Tuesday, ahead of his return to Birmingham. The irony was clear as the Jamaican received a roaring welcome upon his arrival at the same airport this summer, but departed with his head down.
Injuries played a big part in hindering the loan spell at Roma, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini frustrated. Bailey suffered as many as three separate injuries and never really got going. The local Rome media got annoyed and suggested he wasn’t exactly living the perfect lifestyle.
As the attacker returns to Aston Villa, Gazzetta dello Sport provide some background about how the decision came about.
The newspaper report that Bailey himself withdrew from Roma’s squad against Torino at the weekend.
This came right after he held a telephone conversation with Unai Emery. As well as that, he felt disrespected by the Italian side, as they signed Donyell Malen and Robinho Vaz and the duo were likely to push the 28-year-old further down the pecking order.
Aston Villa return may not be long term
After the conversation with Emery, Bailey received the green light from Aston Villa about a return. He pushed for this and because it was his own wish to depart, Roma will now avoid having to pay a loan fee to the Villans too.
The Giallorossi would have had to pay another wage instalment if they had prompted the move. They can now steer clear of that payment, and they’ll be content after Malen made an immediate impact against Torino.
The report makes it sound like Emery was desperate to have Bailey back at Aston Villa. The truth may be a little different, though.
This is because De Telegraaf have spoken of Ajax’s interest in the ex-Bayer Leverkusen player. Whilst he’s returned to Villa Park, there’s every chance he could be leaving again soon.
