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Former West Bromwich Albion youth star Louie Barry is set to ditch the Catalan Giants for his first love, Aston Villa.
Words: Regan Foy | @findfoy
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Aston Villa are close to signing 16-year-old Barcelona wonderkid Louie Barry, just six months after his move to the Catalan giants from West Bromwich Albion. It is thought a deal has been agreed, with just the ‘finer details’ to be sorted.
The move would mean that the Villans have beaten a number of clubs, such as Manchester United and Liverpool, to the player’s signature – as well as those who were interested the first time around, like Paris Saint-Germain.
A boyhood Aston Villa fan, Barry rose through the ranks of the Baggies academy during the tenure of Mark Harrison, who is now Aston Villa’s Academy Manager, before his performances at youth level sparked major worldwide interest.
It is thought that Louie Barry would remain with the Under 23’s initially, but train with the First Team squad from the off, before potentially making a Premier League debut before the end of the season.
It’s an exciting move that would see another exceptional Aston Villa supporting talent within the club, a player with a born affinity with the club if you please.
Barry is a player that has experienced, albeit for a short six months, playing within the fabled La Masia youth academy of Barcelona – something that is no mean feat.
With relegation potentially on the line come the end of the season, this move for a forward who ‘scores goals for fun’ can be seen as preparing for either result despite the high fee for a player of Barry’s age. If Aston Villa stay up, he continues to develop within the Premier League, if they go down, he can spearhead a new-look attack in the Sky Bet Championship.
Louie Barry might not be the biggest name that comes through the door this January, but he will certainly be the biggest prospect, and it’s an exceptional move from Aston Villa should they pick up his services, especially over the likes of United and Liverpool.
