Until a few hours ago, everyone assumed that Óscar Mingueza's future was in the Premier League but there's been a radical change of plans. Finally, Aston Villa, which was the most interested team, has decided to definitively end its interest and has closed another transfer for the full-back position. The chosen one is also Spanish and plays in Spain: Andrés García from Levante.
The main problem for Aston Villa in the operation for Óscar Mingueza was his price. At all times, Celta has referred to his release clause, valued at 20 million euros. What Monchi, the English club's sporting director, was always looking for was to reduce the final amount of this move, trying to get the defender for a few million less.
Laporta Learns the Latest on Óscar Mingueza: KO at Barça
The operation that could have taken Óscar Mingueza to Aston Villa has definitively fallen through. Laporta knows it, and at Barça they are aware of it, to the point that all parties consider this possibility to be off the table. It's been a hard blow for the culers, who were eagerly hoping for everything to come to a successful conclusion.
It's important to remember that Mingueza left Barcelona for free years ago, but in the operation, they kept 50% of his future sale. This means that if Aston Villa had paid the 20 million of his release clause, Barça would have directly received 10 'kilos'.
Amidst the economic difficulties and having returned to the 1:1 rule, these 10 million euros would have been a great relief to the club's coffers. However, it's confirmed that Mingueza won't play at Aston Villa. Barring a last-minute surprise, he will stay for the rest of the season at Celta de Vigo.
Óscar Mingueza, Alternative Destination
Aston Villa isn't the only option Mingueza had (or in this case, has) on the table. It's important to remember that Leipzig is still interested in taking him immediately, with the intention of paying his release clause.
Aston Villa convinced him more given the possibility of playing in the Premier League, but Óscar Mingueza isn't entirely sure about Leipzig and raises doubts. He doesn't see the German team as one that can compete for big things and considers it a training and selling club. At this point in his career, that's not what he's interested in.