Ruggeri 'Enchanted' by Aston Villa Project as He Targets Italy Role on Road to World Cup 2026

Matteo Ruggeri has opened up on his move to Aston Villa, admitting he was 'enchanted' by the club's ambitious project — a switch he hopes will serve as the perfect springboard toward a place in Italy's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The full-back established himself as one of Serie A's most reliable wide defenders during his formative years at Atalanta, where he was part of the squad that lifted the Europa League in 2024. Now he has traded Bergamo for Birmingham, joining Unai Emery's ever-evolving Villa side as they compete on both Premier League and European fronts. 'I was enchanted by the Aston Villa project,' Ruggeri explained, in comments reported by Football Italia. The 23-year-old revealed that conversations with the coaching staff and club hierarchy left him in no doubt about the direction of the organisation, with Villa determined to keep pace with England's traditional heavyweights season after season. Beyond club ambitions, the move carries significant weight for Ruggeri's international aspirations. With the World Cup expanding to 48 teams and being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026, the competition for places in the Azzurri squad is fiercer than ever — particularly for a nation still carrying the scars of failed qualification campaigns for both 2018 and 2022. Ruggeri is determined not to experience that heartbreak from the outside again. He believes that testing himself weekly in the Premier League, widely regarded as the most physically demanding competition in world football, will strengthen his case to the national team setup and keep him firmly in contention as Italy chase their return to football's grandest stage. The timing of the transfer, according to those close to the player, was driven by a simple calculation: Emery's proven track record of developing players and Villa's upward trajectory offer the ideal environment for a defender entering his prime years. The qualities that made Ruggeri a standout in Italy — tireless energy down the flank, precise delivery and tactical intelligence — appear tailor-made for the Spaniard's system. There is also an emotional layer to the story. Ruggeri found the decision to leave Atalanta difficult, having grown up at the club and risen through its celebrated academy system. But he views the Premier League as the challenge his career needs at this moment, with club and country ambitions intertwining neatly. As the countdown to June 2026 gathers pace, Italy's diaspora of talent across Europe's top leagues will be scrutinised for clues about the final squad. If Ruggeri can replicate his Serie A form on English soil, Villa Park may well prove the launchpad for the biggest summer of his life — a World Cup return with the Azzurri after two tournaments spent watching from home.