![\"Leon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_US-Sassuolo-Calcio-v-AS-Roma-Serie-A.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLeon Bailey\u2019s agent has contradicted Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini<\/p>\n
Leon Bailey at AS Roma on loan from Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Leon Bailey\u2019s agent has contradicted Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini over the player\u2019s return to Aston Villa.<\/a><\/p>\n Winger Bailey returned to Villa Park from a loan at AS Roma before the January transfer window closed.<\/p>\n Gasperini insisted Bailey\u2019s loan was \u201ca real ordeal\u201d and was ended because of a series of injuries during his time in Italy.<\/p>\n But his agent Craig Butler is adamant it was Villa\u2019s decision to recall him because of injuries in their squad.<\/p>\n He told CVM Television<\/a>: \u201cHe didn\u2019t return to Aston Villa because Roma didn\u2019t want him, but because the club needed him.<\/p>\n \u201cThey wanted him back because they needed a player of his calibre.\u201d<\/p>\n Gasperini had previously said: “Unfortunately, Bailey’s experience was negative for both him and us.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got injured on the first day of training, and from there, a real ordeal began.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took a long time to recover, then there were some stints, but every time he seemed ready to return fully, he relapsed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was truly a shame, because he was a player we thought could add value.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe injuries were the main factor in this decision, including what happened in the last match in Turin, when he had to sit out again.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a player on loan, it’s clear that this decision was made. Perhaps if he had been a Roma player, we would probably have moved on.\u201d<\/p>\n Content cannot be displayed without consentFollow our Facebook page!Get more news and AVFC analysis here<\/a> Join our Aston Villa WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click on this link<\/a> and select \u2018Join Community\u2019 to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. It’s a free service. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from our Villa writers.<\/p>\n We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Villa news. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click ‘Exit Group’. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. Click here to read our Privacy Notice<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_Whatsapp-storysocial.jpg\")
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