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Morgan Sanson has candidly reflected on his challenging tenure at Aston Villa, attributing a significant part of his struggles to the management shift that saw Steven Gerrard take the helm.
Despite high hopes following his transfer, Sanson’s journey with the Premier League club has been fraught with difficulties, leading to his eventual loan move to OGC Nice, which is poised to become permanent.
A Rocky Transition and The Gerrard Effect
After a commendable stint with Olympique de Marseille, Sanson joined Aston Villa in 2021 for a fee of €15m. The transition, however, did not go as planned for the French midfielder. Limited to just 23 appearances for Aston Villa, Sanson’s time at the club was marred by health issues, including two bouts of Covid, and a series of injuries. These challenges were compounded by what Sanson describes as a “difficult relationship” with then-manager Steven Gerrard.
Sanson’s discontent with his situation at Aston Villa became particularly pronounced following Steven Gerrard’s appointment. Reflecting on this period, Sanson told RMC Sport, “I was sure of my abilities but some things went very badly with a coach at Aston Villa. The problem is that Steven Gerrard arrived, not Unai Emery.” This comment underscores the friction between Sanson’s expectations for his role at the club and the reality under Gerrard’s leadership.
A New Chapter with Emery and Nice
The arrival of Unai Emery as Aston Villa’s manager in October 2022 presented a potential turning point for Sanson. Emery expressed a desire to keep Sanson on the team, yet by then, the Frenchman felt his chapter with the club had conclusively ended, telling Emery he was “finished” at Aston Villa.
Sanson’s subsequent loan to Nice has offered him a fresh start, where he has thrived, openly expressing his hope to make the move permanent.
Path to Permanency at Nice
Sanson’s performance at Nice has been noteworthy, with the midfielder making 19 starts in Ligue 1, while Nice currently sits third in the league, comfortably ahead of the eighth position required to trigger the permanency clause in his loan agreement. With Sanson fulfilling the conditions for a permanent transfer, Aston Villa stands to gain €4m from the deal, marking the end of Sanson’s challenging stint with the Premier League side.
Sanson’s journey underscores the profound impact managerial changes can have on a player’s career, highlighting the complexities of professional football beyond the pitch. As he looks forward to his future with Nice, Sanson leaves behind a tumultuous chapter at Aston Villa, marked by unrealized potential and managerial mismatches.
