Friday, 14th June, 2013
Aston Villa have stepped up their profile in the transfer market going into the 2013/14 campaign by snapping up their third player, FC Groningen playmaker-cum-winger Leandro Bacuna.
Bacuna, 21, made 33 league appearances for the Green-White army last season. This means Bacuna missed only one of Groningen’s league games, scoring five goals and notching two assists along the way.
Villa boss Paul Lambert is already eyeing big things for Bacuna, a Dutch Under-21 international, telling his club’s official site, "Leandro’s energy and versatility will be really good for us.
"He’s a good player, he has bags of energy and he will make an impact. He’s another player we believe will do well for us. He has played in big games and he has lots of experience for a player so young", the Scottish tactician continued.
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Bacuna, for his part, admits that moving with the Midlands giants is a "tremendous" step up to his career and hopes to be part of the "challenge" of creating a "new generation" at Villa Park.
"I’m looking forward to being part of this young, hungry team we have at Villa", the 21-year-old began.
"It’s a tremendous league to be a part of, the Premier League, and we want to show that Aston Villa can takes its place among the top teams", Bacuna added.
The former Groningen man further said: "The manager is trying to create a new generation, to build something here and make a lot of young guys show what they can do. I’m up for the challenge."
Bacuna moves to Aston Villa on a three-year deal which will see him play at Villa Park until 2016. The fee Villa paid FC Groningen for the playmaker, however, was undisclosed.
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