A drama-filled, entertaining, at times frustrating and exhausting season for Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans has now come to an end.
It started in the colours of Claret & Blue when Unai Emery watched his team suffer a 5-1 thrashing away at Newcastle United on the opening day of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Given what Aston Villa went on to achieve for the rest of the season, that unforgettable evening of action now seems a long, long time ago.
But just like the season started for Youri Tielemans, it has ended in a similar fashion, but this time in the colours of Belgium at Euro 2024.
Tielemans and his Belgium side didn’t head to Germany full of expectation or belief that they were going to win the whole thing or even reach the final.
But after they crashed out at the round of 16 stage after suffering a 1-0 defeat to France, they surely expected and wanted much more.
Youri Tielemans is an unused substitute against France
The Villa man started two games for his country at Euro 2024 –a 2-0 win over Romania where he opened the scoring and then a goalless final group game against Ukraine.
The other two – the opening match and the round of 16 clash – Belgium ended up losing both fixtures 1-0 and Tielemans only earned 16 minutes of football.
Even against France, when they needed a spark, a goal and something to keep them in the tournament.
Tielemans remained on the bench and you have to wonder what the under-fire coach Domenico Tedesco was thinking.
It’s staggering that a player of that calibre, who was an unsung hero for Villa in their return to the Champions League, doesn’t earn more minutes for a Belgium side in decline and in serious need of a lift.
Youri Tielemans at Aston Villa next season
The 27-year-old might not be appreciated by his home country, but he is definitely appreciated by those at Villa Park.
Tielemans is going to play an even more important role for Emery next term, especially with the departure of Douglas Luiz.
READ MORE: Unai Emery expected to snub ‘magical’ Aston Villa player in Champions League hammer blow
Villa have confirmed the signing of Ross Barkley, so you expect those two to fight for a place, while the defensive-minded Enzo Barrenechea has also come in from Juventus to bulk up the midfield.
Either way, with Boubacar Kamara still nursing a long-term injury, the senior players of that midfield are now Tielemans and captain John McGinn.
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