Emiliano Buendía

Key strength: Pace and dribbling

Wide creator

Aston Villa's Champions League dream is under siege. Fourth in the table but spiraling through a devastating run of four consecutive defeats, Unai Emery's side desperately need a creative catalyst to arrest their collapse. Enter Emiliano Buendía, the €18 million Argentine playmaker whose metronomic passing and preternatural vision could prove the antidote to Villa's attacking anemia. The former Norwich City maestro, now 29, has endured a fragmented campaign—managing just 6 appearances and 410 minutes as he rebuilds fitness following injury setbacks. Yet even in limited minutes, he's notched an assist while operating in the demanding space between defensive anchors Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana. His 70-rated passing attribute and creative instincts remain elite; across 38 Villa appearances, he's delivered 7 goals and 5 assists. As Villa fight to stabilize their fourth-place standing, Buendía represents their most sophisticated creative outlet. The question isn't his quality—it's whether Emery can unleash him quickly enough to prevent a promising season from unraveling entirely.