Aston Villa starter will be ‘tempted’ to quit after Barcelona swoop - Ex-AVFC employee

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Sun 28 December 2025 17:00, UK Pau Torres may not be able to resist the urge to join Barcelona in what could be a huge blow for Unai Emery and Aston Villa.That is according to ex-Aston Villa, Everton, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider amid Barcelona’s interest in Torres.The 28-year-old, has started 10 of Aston Villa‘s 18 Premier League matches this season, with Emery’s side third in the table.Aston Villa’s 2-1 win at Chelsea made it eight successive Premier League wins for the club, with just a three-point gap between them and league leaders Arsenal.Pau Torres ‘a key part of Unai Emery’s vision’Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Aston Villa will not want to sell Torres.Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks qualification for the Champions League could tempt the Spaniard to stay at the club.He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Well, I don’t think Villa would want to sell him. I think he’s been quite impressive for them from what I’ve seen of him certainly this year.

But yes, I think it’s going to be a player situation to make that decision. “I think he’s a key part of Unai Emery’s vision and the way he plays as well, the way he likes to pick a pass as much as anything else.

He’s a very talented player. Emery will understand, but I’m sure he’ll be working hard to keep him there at Villa, because Villa are also on a great run as we know right now and Emery will be doing all he can, and that will also enter Pau Torres’ head.