Critics are bringing out the beast in me – Leon
LEON Bailey has revealed he could have left Villa in the summer after an injury-ravaged first season at the club.
The Jamaican winger, who sustained hamstring, thigh and ankle injuries last term, was linked with a move to Ajax but, after showdown talks with then-boss Steven Gerrard, opted to stay and prove his doubters wrong.
Bailey, 25, made just seven Premier League starts last season, only two coming under Gerrard who preferred a narrow system without out-and-out wingers. His lack of involvement prompted his stepfather and agent, Craig Butler, to speak out.
“He doesn’t like the bench, never will like the bench, because he’s the type of guy that always wants to play. He’s been on the bench a couple of times and it really got him riled,” he said at the time.
Speaking last month, Butler added: “I advocated strongly that if they don’t want him and they are not going to use wingers, they are to let me move him to Ajax. But we worked it out and he got to play.”
Bailey has been one of Villa’s top performers so far this season and has scored four goals in his 16 appearances.
“You know something, I could have left. Even after that bad season... I could have left but I wanted to stay,’’ he said. “I’m going to stay a long time because I want to make a show of them that called me an idiot. I’m going to show what I’m really capable of.
“Sometimes there’s unfortunate situations but that’s what built me and built me as a person. I like challenges. This year, I’m doing my thing. Now look.
“My mindset is the same going into each season, to remain injury-free, continue working hard and, with this new coach (Unai Emery), top coach, I only see up from there.
“I’ve been doing this for too long to let anybody get to me. Tell me one football player who never had an injury in their career. That’s the first season where I’ve been injured more than two times.
“But these are people that talk, we’re used to people that are talking. I’m so used to people saying negative, positive things... I’m used to it. The (Villa fans) know I can unleash it and they’re seeing it now.”
Bailey revealed why he chose Villa over a top-six club after moving to the Premier League from Bayer Leverkusen for £30 million in the summer of 2021.
“Because we made some mistakes
along the way. We could have made a big move to Bayern Munich,” he said. “Bayern came to my house to sign paperwork and Leverkusen were never going to let me go. That was my first season. They wanted me to replace Arjen Robben and Leverkusen never answered because they wanted me in their team so it never happened.
“I was at Leverkusen for four-and-ahalf years so I left when I was 23, 24. These big clubs want young, talented players and they will spend money. But (moving to Villa) was my way of getting into the Premier League.
“There were a lot of other clubs that wanted me but I did my research, and looked at the team that would suit me best because I wanted to be in a proper environment.
“Aston Villa, top facility, a big club with a big history, fanbase... right city where it is because, as a professional, I take things one step at a time. You don’t want to go and live in London. The London lifestyle is fast. You can be distracted, easily, because every day there’s something to do.
“Because you have money, you always feel like you need to do something and meet friends, go out and party and get caught in the wrong company. I didn’t want that for myself.
“Villa, when they approached me, they wanted to make steps. They spent a lot of money and they wanted to play European football and I believed in that and I still really do believe we will play in Europe.”