Villa offer glimpse into future despite friendly loss

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reported that Aston Villa’s 4-2 friendly defeat by Real Sociedad on Tuesday offered signs of how Unai Emery’s reshaped squad may develop before the new season. Teenagers Brian Madjo and George Hemmings scored for Villa at Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, but the La Liga side responded through Carlos Soler, Orri Oskarsson, Gorka Carrera and Inaki Ruperez.

Madjo, a 6ft 4in striker signed from Metz in January, was highlighted as one of the main positives after also scoring twice in a recent friendly against Walsall. BBC Sport said Villa are still waiting on a Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal linked to registering the England Under-17 international, who is not yet 18. The club’s case is based on his London birth, while the report noted Fifa rules restrict international transfers for minors, with limited exemptions.

Villa were missing several senior players, including Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn, Victor Lindelof, Emi Martinez and record signing Johan Manzambi, while Boubacar Kamara is returning from injury. The report said Lucas Digne’s proposed move to Paris St-Germain had not been completed, and that the departures of Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, plus Amadou Onana’s serious knee injury, have contributed to a busy summer.

Emery’s side are due to continue their preparations with matches against Indonesia All-Stars, BG Pathum United and Bayern Munich, before a Super Cup meeting with Paris St-Germain in Salzburg on 12 August. The friendly mattered less for the result than for showing how young players may help cover gaps in Villa’s evolving squad.