Two or three weeks ago, I was certain I would leave the club... but now I’m not going anywhere!
BIRKIR Bjarnason has admitted he “really wanted to leave’’ Villa only a few weeks ago – but he isn’t going anywhere now!
The Iceland international is finally beginning to show his best form in claret and blue, having spent almost a year out of favour after signing from Swiss side FC Basel.
Bjarnason, 29, was unexpectedly thrust into the fold at Nottingham Forest in an unfamiliar defensive midfield role after Glenn Whelan suffered injury.
He impressed and was handed just his third league start of the campaign – and first since September – against Barnsley last Saturday as Villa’s midfield anchor.
And now, after all but giving up on his time at Villa Park, Bjarnason is desperate to play a pivotal role in guiding the club back to the Premier League.
He said: “Only two to three weeks ago, I was certain I would leave the club. I really wanted to leave, but now I have completely changed my mind. I am not going anywhere!
“I have taken part in our last four matches, but before that I had not played for a long time.
“Now everything looks great. It has been going really well, both for me and the team, and I am really optimistic.”
Bjarnason was one of several Villa players manager Steve Bruce reluctantly willing to let go at beginning of the transfer window.
He hopes to be part of Iceland’s first World Cup adventure in the summer and needs to be playing regular football to guarantee his place on the plane, which is why Bruce would have listened had a suitable offer arrived.
Several teams had expressed an interest, particularly in Italy where Bjarnason has already spent time playing for Pescara and Sampdoria earlier in his career.
SPAL (Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor) and Parma are understood to be among his suitors, and Bjarnason admits his agent, Jim Solbakken, had already entered talks with Serie A was the clubs. Not that it matters now. Bjarnason added: “That had started. I know my agent had already spoken to some clubs to prepare a possible departure. But, for me, Aston Villa is the best choice.
“This is a huge club in England and it is especially great to be here when the team is doing so well, as it has done for the last few weeks. Hopefully we can reach the Premier League. That would be outstanding.
“I think we have got the best squad in this league but we have not shown that yet. Now we seem better drilled than before and now, when there are only three points separating us from the second spot, I think we have a very good chance of doing something great.”