JAKARTA - Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said he didn't want Watkins to leave the club in the midst of interest from Arsenal.
However, he said if Jhon Duran completed his move to Al Nassr then that would be good news for the club.
You see, it shows that they are doing the right thing in terms of player development.
Emery spoke after Aston Villa secured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League after a 4-2 win over Celtic on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
Morgan Rogers's hat trick and Watkins' one goal left Villa eighth in the standings and avoided the playoffs.
Although the victory was very valuable, after the match it was the talk of the two Villa attackers that made the transfer market boisterous more dominant.
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Hours before kick-off against Celtic, Villa turned down Arsenal's offer for Watkins.
The Athletic reported that the refusal had a hand in the smooth negotiations between Aston Villa and Al Nassr.
Prior to the match against Celtic, it was discovered that Duran would undergo a medical examination with the Saudi Arabian Pro League club before a 77 million euro move.
"I don't want (Watkins to leave). We want to keep our sporting goals through the players we have in the squad."
"Every player can be on the market if it's good for players, clubs and teams. However, to get this deal, we must also be very demanding. How come Watkins is our striker," Emery said of Arsenal's interest in Watkins.
Watkins impressed against Celtic, scoring a winning goal in the 60th minute. However, then he missed a penalty a minute later for losing his balance and his shot bounced over the crossbar. Despite the setbacks, he was often a threat in front of the Celtic goal.
Meanwhile, Duran was just watching from the bench. Duran was seen in the hallway after the game, apparently saying goodbye to some staff and players.
"This club is working, we have to be smart and competitive. Of course, we see other strong teams, strong leagues, and countries like Saudi Arabia."
"It's something I'm proud of because we're constantly developing. We have players who attract other clubs to pay dearly."
"Our goal here is to keep our structure smart. Maintaining our level for a long time is the hardest challenge we face."
"Sometimes to do that, we have to sell players, but also try to replace those players with good players, try to develop the players here and improve our abilities."
"I don't know exactly until everything is finished, whether Jhon Duran will leave or not."
"If he leaves, that's good news for us, because they pay a heavy price. That's good for him."
"We have also developed young players in two years to get this offer."
"This is not only for the club, but also for the players and the team. This situation can be positive. I don't know if he will leave or not," Emery said of Duran's future.
Emery further revealed that Duran did want to leave Villa Park even though the club was holding him back.
In the end, the Spaniard supported Duran and hoped his career would continue to grow with the new club.
"If he leaves, it's because he wants it. I told last week that I wanted him here. But what does he want?"
"My opinion about him, he's a fantastic player, a fantastic potential. I'm close to him, trying to work with him in his development."
"They have goals, ambitions, and if he leaves, it's because he wants to take another path in his career," Emery said again.
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