Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley has been pictured in a pitchside presentation at an Italian league club, but not the one fans might expect. The club is FC Taormina, who play in Italy's seventh division, and the presentation was of a pennant to Barkley after he trained at their stadium during a holiday in Sicily.
Pre-season preparations begin early
Barkley will soon be returning to pre-season with Aston Villa as Unai Emery’s squad begin preparations for a return to Premier League and Champions League action in the new season. The 32-year-old clearly wants to get a headstart on his fitness as he took time out of a holiday in Taormina to train at the Stadio Valerio Bacigalupo.
According to the Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA), Barkley spent a few days training there, completing sessions at the Perla dello Ionio sports complex. Officials at the municipality were so pleased to host the Villa man that he was presented with a City of Taormina pennant as a memento pitchside at the Stadio Valerio Bacigalupo.
Local officials praise the champion
Taormina’s sports councilor, Mario Quattrocchi, said: "It's always a pleasure to host champions of this calibre in our city, who, even during their vacations, choose to use our sports facilities and experience the area up close."
Barkley joined Aston Villa in 2023 and has been a key player in their midfield, contributing to their qualification for the Champions League. His decision to train at a lower-league club during his holiday underscores his dedication to maintaining peak physical condition ahead of a demanding season.
