The arrival of Ross Barkley at Aston Villa could prove to be the perfect business to help with a talented young player’s integration into the side.
Unai Emery will be relieved that he can focus on incomings to improve his Aston Villa squad rather than sales now that the 30th June PSR deadline has passed.
The club were left with little choice but to sanction the sales of Tim Iroegbunam, Omari Kellyman and Douglas Luiz to ensure they avoided a breach of Premier League spending rules.
However, Villa have still been spending in order to get their squad Champions League ready, with Lewis Dobbin, Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling-Junior, Enzo Barrenechea and Ross Barkley all confirmed to have signed this summer.
- READ MORE: Aston Villa have now enquired for another Juventus talent after Iling-Junior and Barrenechea
It is the last two of those signings, Barkley, who could be crucial to Barrenechea enjoying success at Villa Park.
Ross Barkley arrival allows Unai Emery to ease in Enzo Barrenechea
Barkley’s signing may be one that goes somewhat under the radar this summer at just £5 million, but it could prove to be really astute business from Villa.
At 30, Barkley has a wealth of experience and the fact he spent last season undergoing a career revival in a holding midfield role at Luton Town should see his arrival go some way to replacing Luiz.
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However, perhaps more importantly, Barkley’s arrival will allow the inexperienced Barrenechea to take his time getting up to speed with the Premier League and takes a lot of the pressure off him to hit the ground running.
Long-term, Barrenechea has been signed to be the Luiz replacement, but to expect him to arrive from Juventus and make an immediate impact could be naive.
Although he is 23, Barrenchea has only one season of regular football under his belt.
Having sustained an injury that kept him out for almost a year in 2021, Barrenechea spent last season on loan at Serie A side Frosinone where he was impressive despite relegation.
With Barkley able to step straight into the side, Emery will be able to manage Barrenechea’s adaptation to English football and he can do so with a far less intense spotlight than had Barkley not been signed.
Aston Villa may have signed the next Sergio Busquets in Barrenechea
Whilst Villa fans should be mindful that Barrenechea could take time to adapt following his move from Italy, his signing is one that should still very much excite supporters.
- READ MORE: Former Juventus coach ‘convinced’ Iling-Junior and Barrenechea will do one thing at Aston Villa
The Argentinian midfielder possesses real quality and his composure on the ball has seen him compared to two of the greatest in the midfield position in Spanish history in Sergio Busquets and Rodri.
Barrenechea’s former youth coach at Juve, Andrea Bonatti, said of the midfielder: ““With me you’re breaking an open door, because Enzo is a really strong player.
“Characteristics? He is no different from Rodri or Busquets, he is a playmaker and can also play as a midfielder.
“He has an aerial game, knowledge, covers the pitch well, has great technique, dominance under pressure, play more vertically and now he is much more complete.”
Given Barkley’s move to a deeper role having been a more attacking player originally, we could well see a Villa midfield in which the Englishman and Argentine dominate opponents together across the upcoming season.
