Unai Emery Compares New Signing Alysson to Leon Bailey After £10m Villa Transfer
Unai Emery has called for patience with Brazilian winger Alysson, who made a promising debut for Aston Villa in their recent Premier League match against Brighton. The 19-year-old, who joined the club from Gremio for £10 million in January, is expected to make his second appearance for Villa in the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Newcastle on Saturday.
Alysson's Debut and Impact
Alysson came on in the 74th minute of the Brighton game, which Villa won 1-0 thanks to a Jack Hinshelwood own goal. The goal resulted from Tyrone Mings' header off a Leon Bailey corner, deflecting in off the Brighton defender. Following this debut, fans have been vocal in their support for Alysson to start in the upcoming FA Cup match, highlighting his immediate impact and potential.
Emery's Comparison to Leon Bailey
In the pre-match press conference ahead of the Newcastle fixture, Emery discussed Alysson's qualities, drawing a direct comparison to teammate Leon Bailey. "He's a winger. Left foot winger playing normally on the right side, and he can play on the left side, but normally he's playing on the right side," Emery explained. "He has qualities or skills like, more or less, Leon Bailey – left foot playing in the right side, and he has a huge potential."
Patience and Adaptation Needed
Emery emphasized that Alysson requires time to adapt to the team and reach his best performances. "Of course, his adaptation is being progressively better, but he needed time, and he is still needing time to adapt to us, and to get his best performances," the manager stated. "But each match or each training session is very important for him." This cautious approach underscores Villa's strategy to nurture young talent while managing expectations from supporters eager to see more of the new signing.
The FA Cup match against Newcastle presents a key opportunity for Alysson to build on his debut and further integrate into the squad, as Villa aims to advance in the competition and continue their positive momentum under Emery's leadership.
