Jhon Duran has returned to Bodymoor Heath after an eventful summer and Aston Villa fans are not happy.
The summer transfer window has been busy to say the least at Aston Villa, as Unai Emery prepares his squad for the 2024/25 campaign.
Returning to the Champions League will give the manager further incentive to bolster his options, explaining Villa’s presence in the transfer market.
As well as welcoming new faces, Emery has bid farewell to several players, including first-team regulars Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby.
The two players played a significant part in Villa’s successes last term, giving the boss a void to fill ahead of the new campaign.
With deadline day fast approaching, it could be that the duo aren’t the only first-team figures to exit this summer, as Jhon Duran’s future remains in doubt.
From links to West Ham and Chelsea to disrespecting Villa on social media, it’s been a hectic summer for the Colombian, who has now returned to Bodymoor Heath.
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Aston Villa fans call for Jhon Duran to be axed after Bodymoor Heath return
After being granted an extended break following his participation at Copa America, Duran was pictured returning to training on Tuesday.
It still looks like the striker could leave Villa this summer however, he has procedurally returned to Emery’s squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Duran was pictured returning to Bodymoor alongside the likes of Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez however, he did not receive a welcome as warm as his teammates.
Reacting to Duran’s return on X, one Villa said what most are thinking, “Would love to know how awkward it is right now.”
Another said, “Well look what the cat dragged in. En route to Unai’s office for a dressing down!”
The hostility between fans and Duran comes after the 20-year-old decided to make a West Ham-related gesture on Instagram Live following links to the Hammers.
Many supporters shared the opinion that the Colombia international should be sold this summer.
“Hope he is not a Villa player by the end of the transfer window,” one fan said, with another agreeing, “Not fit to wear the shirt.”
Another loyal supporter tweeted, “Doesn’t deserve to be wearing the badge again. Get him gone even at a loss he disrespected the club that gave him the chance.”
On returning to Bodymoor Heath, one supporter called on Emery to actually extend the youngster’s holiday to keep him away from the club, “May as well let him have a longer holiday till we find someone to take him off our hands.”
Others backed the manager to take a no-nonsense approach and demote the 20-year-old to the academy squad, “Send him to the reserves. Seriously!”
Another supporter echoed such opinion with, “He’s gonna love training with the under-18s,” as another agreed by saying, “Put him in detention.”
It’s a long way back for Duran at Villa
The disrespect that Villa fans feel from Duran is valid, as the 20-year-old has his eyes firmly on being a first-choice striker.
Unfortunately, that is not possible at Villa, as the Colombian realised last term when witnessing the brilliance of Watkins.
It’s an incredibly difficult situation for Villa, who on one hand won’t stand for the player’s immaturity but on the other, won’t want to lose his talent ahead of the 2024/25 calendar.
Now that West Ham have secured the signing of Niclas Fullkrug as a Duran alternative, it will be even more interesting to see how this story unfolds.
