Aston Villa Push to Sign Atletico Madrid's Matteo Ruggeri as Left-Back Priority

Aston Villa are pushing to sign Atletico Madrid defender Matteo Ruggeri, with the 24-year-old said to be evaluating whether to accept the offer from Unai Emery.

With Lucas Digne set to join Paris Saint-Germain once his summer break concludes, Villa are short at left-back. Ian Maatsen is currently the only senior option in that position, making reinforcement a priority before the window closes.

AC Milan‘s Pervis Estupinan had been heavily linked with a move to the West Midlands, but that deal has gone cold in recent days, with the Ecuadorian now training at San Siro ahead of a potential stay.

According to MARCA, Emery has shifted his focus to Ruggeri and wants to complete the signing immediately, identifying a clear market opportunity. Atletico’s acquisition of Alex Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen has pushed Ruggeri down the depth chart, creating the opening Villa are looking to exploit.

Ruggeri’s Profile and Current Standing at Atletico

Ruggeri delivered seven assists from 47 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side in his first campaign at the club. He earned that move through 109 outings for Atalanta BC, where he contributed two goals and 10 assists and played a key role in their 2023-24 Europa League-winning season. Despite that pedigree, his path at Atletico has narrowed with Grimaldo’s arrival.

Villa are reportedly prepared to pay more than the €17m (£14.55m) Atletico paid Atalanta last summer. Ruggeri, for his part, is weighing the offer against the possibility of better proposals materialising from elsewhere.

Why Ruggeri Fits Villa’s Needs Better Than Estupinan

The case for Ruggeri over Estupinan comes down to profile. Estupinan’s strengths lean toward attack, making him broadly similar to Maatsen. Ruggeri brings stronger defensive attributes, additional height to the backline, and the versatility to cover as a left-sided centre-back when needed. That combination gives Villa genuine depth rather than a like-for-like replacement.

With Estupinan’s deal fading and Maatsen as the lone senior option, Villa have clear incentive to meet Atletico’s asking price and secure Ruggeri without delay. Follow TipsGG for the latest updates as this transfer develops.