Real Madrid Eyeing A Move For This Aston Villa Man: Should The Villans Let Him Leave? | OneFootball

Fresh talk from Spain suggests Real Madrid have picked Unai Emery as their top choice to fix their coaching situation this summer. A report from Football Espana says Real Madrid bosses recently got in touch with the Basque coach’s team. They want to see if he is open to a move. This interest comes because things look shaky for Alvaro Arbeloa, who is currently in charge at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Real Madrid Eye Unai Emery as Alvaro Arbeloa Struggles

Arbeloa took over after Xabi Alonso left, but club leaders reportedly see the 54-year-old as a temporary fix rather than the man to build the team’s future. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez wants a coach who has seen it all, and Emery fits that description perfectly.

The Spaniard’s past jobs in La Liga with Sevilla and Villarreal led to several European trophies. That proved he can win at the highest level. Also, the way he turned things around in the Premier League caught the eye of the people making decisions in Madrid.

Arbeloa is under a lot of pressure after a rocky start. This includes a bad loss in the Copa del Rey, which has forced the Spanish giants to look for someone with more experience. Emery knows how to set up tough teams and get wins in big games. That makes him a great option for a club that only care about winning trophies.

Should Aston Villa keep him?

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 29: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Aston Villa FC and FC Salzburg at Villa Park on January 29, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Since moving to Villa Park, Emery has completely changed the club’s path. He has turned a middle-of-the-pack team into a top-four regular. As of January 30, 2026, Aston Villa are third in the Premier League. They have 46 points from 23 games and are right on the heels of Manchester City and Arsenal.

This season has shown how much they have grown. Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins have become a scary attacking duo that ruins defences. On top of that, getting Douglas Luiz back on loan and signing Victor Lindelöf have made the squad stronger for a serious run in the Europa League.

Losing Emery now would be a massive blow for the Birmingham club. He is the brains behind their current success. If he leaves, it could ruin everything they have built. Still, the pull of Real Madrid is strong for any Spanish manager. Villa’s hierarchy must fight hard to keep their leader. They might try to do this by spending more money in the transfer market.

Emery still has things he wants to achieve in England. However, the chance to manage the most successful club in the world is a rare, tempting offer. If Villa can grab a spot in the Champions League again, they might convince him to stay. They want to show him that his best work belongs in the Midlands, not Madrid.