Aston Villa have announced that Trezeguet has joined Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir on loan until the end of the season.
After suffering a serious knee injury last year, the 27-year-old has battled back on a long road of rehabilitation and was recently involved at the Africa Cup of Nations for Egypt.
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While that would have been a significant achievement for him given what he has gone through over the past 12 months or so, this is now an important stage for him as he looks to play regularly, and rediscover his best form.
As per Villa’s website, Trezeguet has now joined Basaksehir in a loan deal for the rest of the season, and it’s a smart decision for all concerned.
With the additions of Leon Bailey, Emiliano Buendia and Philippe Coutinho over the past two transfer windows, competition for places has significantly increased at Villa, with the likes of Anwar El Ghazi and Jaden Philogene-Bidace loaned out last month in order to cut the numbers and give them an opportunity to get minutes.
Ultimately, Trezeguet would have been down the pecking order had he stayed at Villa Park, and so for him, this move represents a chance to play week in and week out and come back stronger in the summer, at which point a decision will likely be made on his long-term future.
Gerrard was frank in his press conference on Tuesday in explaining the above reasoning for Trezeguet’s loan departure, and so time will tell if the Egyptian international can come back and represent Villa again, or perhaps this is the start of the process of him moving on, with Villa doing the same with the newer options now available to Gerrard.
Trézéguet has joined İstanbul Başakşehir on loan until the end of the season.
Wishing you all the very best in Turkey, @Trezeguet. 👊
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 8, 2022
