Aston Villa’s ‘impossible’ offer for Matteo Ruggeri with double-your-money deal on the table
Aston Villa’s move for Matteo Ruggeri could become one of the most surprising deals of their summer.
The left side of Unai Emery’s defence is changing.
Lucas Digne is expected to return to PSG after agreeing a three-year contract with the French champions. His departure would remove an experienced player and helped Villa win the Europa League last term.
Ian Maatsen remains at the club, but Villa still need another specialist left-back to provide competition and cover across a demanding campaign.
Ruggeri would bring a different profile to Maatsen.
The 24-year-old is tall, physical and comfortable playing either as a conventional full-back or a wing-back. He developed at Atalanta’s academy and was given his senior breakthrough during the 2020/21 season.
A loan spell with Salernitana followed before Ruggeri returned to Bergamo and became a regular.
|
Matteo Ruggeri’s league stats since 2020 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Club |
League |
Appearances |
Goals |
Assists |
|
2020/21 |
Atalanta |
Serie A |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
2021/22 |
Salernitana |
Serie A |
14 |
0 |
0 |
|
2022/23 |
Atalanta |
Serie A |
15 |
0 |
1 |
|
2023/24 |
Atalanta |
Serie A |
34 |
0 |
4 |
|
2024/25 |
Atalanta |
Serie A |
30 |
0 |
3 |
|
2025/26 |
Atletico Madrid |
La Liga |
26 |
0 |
3 |
|
Career total |
125 |
0 |
11 |
||
Ruggeri started Atalanta’s Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen and was later selected in UEFA’s Team of the Season. That campaign established him as one of Italy’s most promising left-sided defenders.
Atlético Madrid then signed him in 2025 for a package reportedly worth around £17 million, and while his debut year in Spain wasn’t smooth sailing, he eventually earned Diego Simeone’s trust.
Ruggeri finished the season with seven assists from 47 appearances in all competitions, including three assists across 26 La Liga outings. He also played 15 times during Atlético’s run to the Champions League semi-finals.
However, the arrival of Alejandro Grimaldo has changed his position in Madrid.
Atletico now have another established option on the left and appear willing to make a quick profit. Reports in Spain previously claimed they had accepted a package worth around £21 million from Villa, although Ruggeri had not approved personal terms.
Roma and Juventus have also been credited with interest, giving the defender alternatives if he decides against moving to England.
The latest figures concerning Villa’s bid, however, have caused surprise in Italy.
Aston Villa’s ‘impossible’ Matteo Ruggeri bid amid double-your-money contract
TuttoMercatoWeb journalist Andrea Losapio claims Villa’s proposal is actually worth around £32 million.
He also reports that Ruggeri has been offered a salary of around £4 million per year, worth close to £82,000 each week, and Losapio says that would double his existing Atlético salary of £2 million a year.
Losapio described the offer as ‘impossible’ to believe and admitted he would never have expected Villa to commit those amounts.
When one supporter questioned whether the information could possibly be accurate, Losapio acknowledged that he also found the numbers difficult to believe. However, he insisted he trusted the person who supplied them.
His figures are dramatically higher than those reported elsewhere, so the exact package still requires further confirmation.
If accurate, Villa are not merely trying to replace Digne, they are offering Ruggeri the money and status to become an important part of Emery’s next rebuild.
