‘We do not have to worry’
• Butler not concerned by rumours of Bailey’s impending exit from Villa • Manager says player is a pro and will perform well, regardless
Published:Wednesday | April 30, 2025 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
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AS RUMOURS of Leon Bailey’s depature from Aston Villa continue to mount, the player’s manager, Craig Butler, insists that Bailey is a consumate professional who remains loyal to the Midland club. The 27-year-old winger is not having the best of...
AS RUMOURS of Leon Bailey’s depature from Aston Villa continue to mount, the player’s manager, Craig Butler, insists that Bailey is a consumate professional who remains loyal to the Midland club.
The 27-year-old winger is not having the best of campaigns for the English Premier League (EPL) team.
He has started only 14 of the 23 EPL matches he has played this season and has only one goal and two assists in the league and two goals and four assists in 37 games from all competitions.
Bailey, who had 14 goals and 14 assists last term, has been severely impacted by injuries, plus the additions of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, Marco Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain, and Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund in January, which further reduced his playing time.
Speculations of departure
The additions, along with the subpar numbers have led to speculations of a departure in the summer.
According to a report from journalist Christian Falk on the Bayern Insider podcast, Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig are interested in taking Bailey back to the Bundesliga, with one former Villa scout pricing the player at £30 million.
Rumours aside, Butler insists that Bailey is committed to the club for the foreseeable future but said that at the end of the season, they will sit and decide what is best for both parties.
“We do not have to worry about what will happen next season. What will happen is Leon will be performing well next season whether at Aston Villa or somewhere else. He will remain a force to be reckoned with as an attacking player.
“Right now his loyalty is to the club and will remain with the club until further notice. At the end of the season, whatever the club and he decide will be in the best interest of the club, himself, and the fans,” he commented.
He noted that despite failing to hit the heights of last season and not being a regular starter in Unai Emery’s side, he has remained steadfast, positive, and a true professional.
“Leon is a professional footballer. He has been raised to behave in a professional manner at all times. So you will see him going to work and doing his job to the best of his ability on any day.
“His mindset is that of a professional. He is not a little boy who is going to be upset if he does not play a few games. He understands and knows that when the time comes and he gets his opportunity, he will perform just like he did at Crystal Palace (FA Cup semi-final), and I am sure like we will see for the remaining games of the season,” he said.
Approached by several clubs
Although Butler would not say if Bailey would be on the move next season, he said big clubs across Europe have always been keen on his services.
“Since last year, Leon has been approached by several clubs, and the interest has not waned. Clubs in the Premier League, clubs in the Saudi Pro League, in Germany, Spain, and the biggest club in Turkey.
“However, with prompting from Aston Villa, he chose to remain and stay loyal to the club and the fans of the club.
“When you are employed to an organisation you have to show loyalty and respect to the organisation regardless of whether the circumstances at the time suit you or not.
“Leon is doing his job. He is back to full fitness and the last game in which he came on, he performed extremely well and arguably was the best player on the pitch.
“Great players will have dips in form or injuries that may affect them, but class is consistent, and that is one of the things that Leon Bailey has. He continues to show that he is cream that rises to the top, and he will always get up and rise to the occasion,” he said.
“He has a manager,” Butler continued, speaking about himself in the third person. “And that manager’s job is to seek out and listen to opportunities and make sure we negotiate what is in his best interest.
“I am a person that takes that very seriously, and I am doing my job. And take it seriously when I say I am doing my job,” he stated.
More fuel was added to the fire of rumours surrounding Bailey when he suspended his Instagram page recently, but Butler insists that this was routine.
“Leon takes down his Instagram every few months to clean it up, just like I do with mine. It has nothing to do with the club or his state of mind,” he said.