Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has revealed that attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia had the opportunity to leave the club during the summer transfer window but made a conscious decision to stay and fight for his place at Villa Park.
The disclosure came following Villa's spirited 2-1 victory away at Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round on 11th January 2026, a match in which Buendia was instrumental.
Buendia's decisive role in Tottenham triumph
The two-time Argentina international ended a run of six games without a direct goal contribution in emphatic fashion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He broke the deadlock with a powerful finish into the near top corner to make it 1-0.
Buendia then turned provider for Villa's second goal, executing a clever back-heel assist for Morgan Rogers after a slick one-two with teammate Donyell Malen. This performance mirrored his impact in Villa's narrow Premier League win at the same venue back in October.
Emery's revelation on summer intentions
In his post-match press conference, Emery lifted the lid on the player's future. "In the summer, we were thinking to keep him or to leave, and he wanted to stay here with us," the Villa boss stated.
Emery was full of praise for the player's character and impact, adding: "He's a fantastic guy, and he's a fantastic competitive player. How he's getting the commitment we need is like I want with every player."
Financial pressures and a player's determination
The context behind Villa's summer deliberations is significant. The club was under pressure to comply with both the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and UEFA's Squad Cost Rules (SCR).
Selling an asset like Buendia was a serious consideration to help balance the books. This came just a year after the player had been sent on a loan spell to Bayer Leverkusen, which did not yield the desired success.
Despite a Villa career punctuated by injury setbacks and fluctuating form, Buendia was determined to prove his worth in the West Midlands. His decision to stay and fight appears to be paying dividends this campaign.
Versatility key to Emery's plans
Emery highlighted a crucial factor in Buendia's resurgence: his adaptability. The manager specifically pointed to the player's value in multiple positions across the attacking line.
"How he's helping us with his versatility as a player in two positions is very important for us," Emery explained. "The key position is the number inside and the number outside. But always linking with the midfielder and linking with the striker or with the winger, he's a very important player."
This season, Buendia has contributed six goals and four assists across all competitions, demonstrating a marked return to form and confidence. While he has recently lost his guaranteed starting spot, his overall contribution in the 2025/26 campaign has been substantially improved.
Emery's final word on the matter was clear: "When he's playing like today, he's performing like today, he's helping like he did today, of course our team is better." For Buendia and Aston Villa, a summer of uncertainty has transformed into a season of renewed promise.
