The 24-year-old joined us from Juventus last summer, but the decision was ultimately taken to loan him out last season and he enjoyed a highly-productive and impressive stint with Valencia.
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It had been hoped that his form for the La Liga outfit would be enough to convince Unai Emery to give him a chance to integrate and break into our side from next season onwards, but transfer speculation continues to link the Argentine midfielder with a departure.
According to [El Desmarque](https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/real-betis/20250625/enzo-barrenechea-sustituto-johnny-cardoso-betis_300699568.html), Barrenechea is a priority transfer target for Betis who are expected to soon be in the market for a replacement for Johnny Cardoso, while it’s added that Villa are open to offers and could green light an exit for the talented midfielder for around €10m.
Given Emery still currently has Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley at his disposal to play in our deeper midfield pivot, it remains unclear how big a role Barrenechea would play with us next season unless one of those players were to move on this summer.
In turn, from that perspective, a sale would arguably make the most sense for all parties, but such is the talent and potential that he possesses along with the argument that he’s an excellent fit for Emery’s system and style of play given how he operates in that deeper midfield role, it would be such a shame to see him leave without having that chance to establish himself at Villa.
There have been plenty of reports of interest in Barrenechea from Spain so far this month, and while it feels as though it all points toward an exit this summer, time will tell if Villa are able to agree on terms with an interested party, and if he is open to joining them. Firstly though, it’s down to Emery to make a decision on whether or not he forms part of his plans, particularly if we’re still at risk of losing one of the four midfielders named above.
As per the report, Villa are said to have shown an interest in Betis winger Jesus Rodriguez this month, and so it remains to be seen if the two clubs perhaps discuss a deal that sees him move in the opposite direction as part of the Barrenechea talks.
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