Emery confirms Ruggeri injury blow for Italy and Aston Villa

BURSA, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Matteo Ruggeri of Italy looks on during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has confirmed that Matteo Ruggeri will be unavailable for ‘more than one month’ with a hamstring injury, which means that he is expected to miss out on Roberto Mancini’s next Italy national team squad. 

Ruggeri out for ‘more than one month’, Emery confirms

The former Atalanta wing-back suffered an injury to his hamstring during Aston Villa’s 2-2 draw against Michael Kayode’s Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 

Emery confirmed during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday ahead of Aston Villa’s Champions League match against Fenerbahce that Ruggeri will be sidelined for several weeks, ‘more than one month’.

“I don’t know exactly how long it will be, but some weeks he will be out. More than one month,” Emery confirmed on Tuesday. 

It is unfortunate timing for Ruggeri, who had made his first Premier League starts in Aston Villa’s two most recent matches either side of the international break. 

He had also impressed while on international duty with Italy, earning plaudits for his performance on his first cap in a 4-1 victory away against Turkey on September 28. 

It is expected that he will be unavailable for selection for the next international break, which officially kicks off on November 9.