Ollie Watkins apologises to Aston Villa squad ahead of Al-Hilal move
Unai Emery has confirmed Ollie Watkins apologised for refusing to play against Brighton. The striker is nearing a £51m move to Al-Hilal.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed that striker Ollie Watkins refused to play in the 4-0 loss to Brighton last Sunday. Following the incident, the forward has apologised to the club and his teammates for his actions.
He told us after the Brighton match he was sorry and that he had made a mistake. He was wrong, but we accepted it. The players as well. Unai Emery
Watkins is now nearing a £51 million move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. Emery spoke emotionally about the player, who scored 108 goals for the club, defending the financial decision to sell him while praising his commitment during his time in the Midlands.
To rebuild the attack, Villa are expected to finalise a £65m deal for Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson. Additionally, the club has signed midfielder Leon Goretzka on a free transfer from Bayern Munich. Emery stressed that these moves are part of a strategic plan to maintain the club's growth.
The club is currently working to register Jackson in time for Monday's clash against Arsenal. Goretzka is already training and could feature soon, as Villa look to recover from their opening-weekend defeat.