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HOUSTON - Michael Bradley won't be returning to Aston Villa after new manager Alex McLeish decided not to pick up the club's option to purchase the American midfielder.

Instead, Bradley will continue to feature for the United States during the Gold Cup while keeping any options for his future open.

Bradley's agent Ron Waxman confirmed Aston Villa's decision to Goal.com via email.

"Michael will not be joining Aston Villa on a permanent transfer," Waxman said.

As he updated reporters Tuesday about his status, Bradley seemed resigned to finishing out the last year of his contract with the Borussia Mönchengladbach if necessary but would prefer to find a solution that is mutually beneficial to both sides.

"I've got a year left on my contract there so we’ll see what happens," said Bradley, before adding, "If something comes up, that’s good for Gladbach and good for me, I’ll look at it. Otherwise, another year at Gladbach."

Given Gladbach's financial situation, the club would likely prefer to sell the the 23-year-old now rather than let his contract run out. However, the club isn't against Bradley's return.

"We are trying to reach Michael by telephone," Borussia sporting director Max Eberl told Bild. "If there are no other option for him he'll train with Gladbach after the Gold Cup and his vacation. He has one more year left on his contract."

Bradley is currently with the U.S. national team in Houston ahead of the Gold Cup semifinal against Panama.

With his club futures of several United States team players still in limbo, Bradley believes that international competition is beneficial because it allows those players, himself included, to focus solely on the national team.

"You get to get away from all of that," Bradley said. "One of the special things about this team is that when guys come in, we are committed to [the U.S. national team] and we don’t let things on the outside distract us."

He added, "It's been nice to be here [in the Gold Cup] and concentrate on the things at hand."

Michael Bradley | A vital cog for the U.S. team, less so for Aston Villa

Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Ogugchi Onyewu, Freddy Adu and even Clint Dempsey all have uncertain statuses within their current club teams. Wednesday's match marks the Stars and Stripes' fifth over the span of 17 days, so there has been limited time to think about anything else aside from fitness and the next opponent.

Still, in a rare moment of pause, Bradley opened up on his perspective about what's happened with his own current situation.

"My experience at Villa was a good one but it is a new situation [now],” he said. "With a new manager coming in, it's totally understandable that it is his club and he wants to have his say on the team."

"On my end, its good because I don't want to be at a place where I am not wanted," he said.

Bradley’s loan to the Birmingham-based club was based on a fractured relationship between the midfielder and then-coach Michael Frontzeck at Gladbach. In May, the club explained that it never wanted to let Bradley leave the club and, now under new management, it appeared as if Bradley was open to returning to the German club.

"No doors are closed," said Bradley to Goal.com after the U.S. friendly 4-0 loss to Spain earlier this month. "I'm just trying to keep all options open at this point."

Alex Labidou is the Deputy Editor of Goal.com USA. Agree or disagree with the story above? Give him a shout @sportslab on Twitter.

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Labels: after, Aston, Bradley, decline, Goalcom, keeping, Michael, Midfielder, options, purchasing, Villa

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) - Ashley Young struck a fine equalizer in front of England coach Fabio Capello to give Aston Villa a 1-1 Premier League draw with relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

England winger Young beat Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi from 20 yards (meters) - his ninth goal of the season - to cancel out Wigan’s lead at Villa Park.

The visitors scored after 10 minutes when Victor Moses burst forward from midfield and played in striker Charles N’Zogbia, who found the corner of the net with an angled shot.

The point left Wigan fourth from bottom, one point above the relegation zone, with two games to play. Blackpool, in 18th place, was playing later Saturday.

Villa is in 14th, seven points clear of the bottom three, and should be guaranteed top-division survival.

Wigan face bottom club West Ham United next weekend in a game that will have a major impact on both teams’ hopes of retaining their Premier League status.

“When you are in this position you cannot rely on anyone, just yourselves,” Wigan’s manager, Roberto Martinez, said. “The game against West Ham is a final in a league campaign.”

Villa’s former England striker Emile Heskey was fortunate not to be sent off after making contact with referee Mike Jones after 33 minutes. Heskey lost his composure after not winning a free kick and appeared to barge into the official, but he escaped with a yellow card and was substituted at half-time.

Both sides had chances to win it in the second half.

Hugo Rodallega’s shot in the 77th minute flashed just wide of Brad Friedel’s post, and then Al-Habsi blocked well from Darren Bent late on.

Labels: Aston, SportsTicker, Villa, Wigan

Labels: 6month, defender, driving, Dunne, Villa

The two Frenchmen fell out earlier this season after Pires complained about his lack of first-team opportunities.

But now the 37-year-old former Arsenal star revealed: "I have had a complicated time since I came to Villa but I had a face-to-face discussion with Gerrard and everything is back to normal.

"It was very difficult for the manager to take over more than a month into the season but we are starting to win games.

"I am convinced we can finish the season in the European places.

"We have had a very good transfer window and this will help us to continue our improvement.

"Everyone in England knows the qualities of Darren Bent, and the arrival of Jean Makoun is a real bonus because he will bring stability and technique to midfield."

Labels: Pirfect, Villa

Wayne Rooney's first-half double guided unbeaten Premier League leader Manchester United to a convincing 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The England striker opened the scoring after just 48 seconds and added a second on the stroke of halftime to set United on its way to a 12th win in 13 home matches this campaign.

Labels: beats, Rooney, scores, United, Villa

BARCELONA, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Barcelona striker David Villa refused to blame the distraction of last Wednesday’s international fixtures for the La Liga leaders’ slip-up at Sporting Gijon on Saturday when they were held to a 1-1 draw.

The result gave second-placed Real Madrid a chance to cut the gap to five points with a win at Espanyol later on Sunday and came as Barca prepare to travel to London for Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 clash against Arsenal.

It also ended the Catalan club’s record 16-match winning run in La Liga.

“We did not notice the so-called FIFA virus,” Villa, one of 13 internationals in the Barca squad, told reporters after he scored a late equaliser against his former club Gijon.

“We had to work extremely hard because of how well Sporting played, not because of any fault of ours,” he added.

Gijon took a surprise lead in the 16th minute at the Molinon when poor defending from Gerard Pique and Gabriel Milito let striker David Barral in to rifle the ball past Victor Valdes.

Villa equalised with an exquisite chip 10 minutes from time but Barca were unable to convert sustained pressure on the home goal into a winner.

“It’s a shame that we dropped these two points in Gijon, which were important for us,” Valdes said. “Now we must focus on Europe.”

(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Ed Osmond; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Barca, blame, Reuters, Villa, virus

The Spanish striker broke the British transfer record during the winter window, securing a £50million move to Stamford Bridge on deadline day.

Torres has since revealed that he opted to take on a fresh challenge after growing impatient at Liverpool.

His debut for his new employers saw him pitched in direct competition against the Reds, with fate handing him an immediate opportunity to renew acquaintances with his former Anfield colleagues.

He failed to hit the heights expected of him in that clash, with Liverpool claiming a 1-0 win in a game which saw Torres substituted after 65 minutes.

However, Barcelona star Villa, who won the World Cup alongside Torres last summer, believes his fellow frontman will provide value for money at Chelsea.

He said: "Liverpool are not enjoying a good year. I am totally convinced that his move to Chelsea will go well and he will succeed in London.

"It's been very difficult for him, but I'm pleased because I know he wanted to go there. He is very happy and I wish him well."

Villa, who joined Barca from Valencia last summer after being linked with a move to England, has also applauded Liverpool for the manner in which they have gone about replacing Torres.

The Reds have spent big to land Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, and Villa believes both will be successful on Merseyside.

He added: "Each year there are big transfers of this type. It's normal. All teams need to strengthen when they want to win things.

"Liverpool needed to reinforce after the sale of Fernando. They [Carroll and Suarez] are two great players who are worth every penny. I'm sure they'll be a hit with the fans."

Labels: choice, SkySports, supports, Torres, Villa

ESPN

Aston Villa to sign Michael Bradley on loan and let Stephen Ireland go The Guardian Aston Villa are expected to bring their business in the transfer window to an end by signing Michael Bradley on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach for the remainder of the season and allowing Stephen Ireland to join Newcastle United in another ... Ireland deal done?Vitalfootball Toon medical for IrelandSkySports Aston Villa's Stephen Ireland set for Newcastle loanBBC Sport The Press Association -ESPN -Goal.com all 345 news articles »

Labels: Aston, Bradley, Guardian, Ireland, Michael, Stephen, Villa