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Published Aug 5, 2026, 8:20 AM GMT+1
Charlie is a football writer and assistant editor on FootballFanCast.com and has worked for the company for a number of years.
He began with Snack Media during his time at UCFB’s Etihad Campus, and after graduating in 2019, has held full-time roles on the Read Network and The Transfer Tavern.
Charlie has covered a variety of sports during his time with the company and has been a correspondent for football clubs both in England and Scotland.
Aston Villa have made an offer to sign a replacement for Lucas Digne, whose move to Paris Saint-Germain looks set to be announced sooner rather than later.
Digne’s departure will leave Villa short of options at left-back, with Ian Maatsen set to be the club's only recognised senior left-back when the Frenchman’s move is confirmed.
As a result, finding a new full-back has become a priority in what is turning out to be an extremely busy summer in the transfer window for NSWE and Unai Emery.
Already, the club have broken their transfer record signing by landing attacking midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg, while Joao Gomes, Modou Keba Cisse and Alejandro Garnacho have also made the move to the Midlands.
Funds have been brought in with the huge £117m sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea, meaning there should be some cash available to bolster the left-back department for the Europa League winners ahead of their Champions League return.
Villa and Emery may not necessarily be searching for an automatic starter, but will want genuine competition for Maatsen across a demanding campaign.
That has led them to Atletico Madrid’s Matteo Ruggeri.
|
Atalanta Academy |
2011–2020 |
Joined Atalanta's youth system at the age of nine before progressing and making his senior breakthrough as a teenager. |
|
Atalanta |
2020–2025 |
Established himself as a first-team left-back, playing in the Champions League and making more than 100 appearances in total. |
|
Salernitana (loan) |
2021–2022 |
Gained valuable top-flight experience with 14 Serie A appearances during his only loan spell. |
|
Atletico Madrid |
2025–present |
Joined Diego Simeone's side for €17m and enjoyed a strong debut season, making 47 appearances in all competitions, featuring regularly in La Liga and the Champions League. |
|
Italy Youth Teams |
2018–2025 |
Represented Italy from Under-17 through to Under-21, earning more than 40 youth caps. |
Aston Villa want to sign Ruggeri quickly after offer
According to reports from Marca, relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa have made an offer for the Atletico defender and want to seal the deal as quickly as possible.
REUTERS/Isabel InfantesDespite being a regular in his first season under Diego Simeone’s side after joining from Atalanta, Ruggeri already appears to be surplus to requirements and was recently linked with Villa’s Premier League rivals Liverpool and Tottenham.
According to FootballTransfers' similarity model, Ruggeri is one of the players whose style resembles Digne, which may see him become a natural successor to the Frenchman.
Like Digne, he is an attack-minded left-back who enjoys getting forward, delivering crosses and contributing in possession rather than simply defending deep.
Ruggeri made 47 appearances across all competitions during the 2025/26 campaign, contributing seven assists, featuring heavily in the club’s run to the Champions League semi-finals, something which will surely appeal to Villa.
If the deal is completed, Emery could be signing a like-for-like replacement for Digne, albeit a younger option to an impressive squad.
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