Juan Pablo Ángel has suggested that Jhon Durán may regret his departure from Aston Villa, arguing the forward moved on just as his talent was becoming clear. The former Villa striker offered his assessment in an interview with Colombian broadcaster Win Sports, which was first highlighted by Sport Witness on 21 August.
Durán is currently playing for Benfica on loan from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. It is the 22-year-old’s seventh club, having begun his career at Envigado before moving to Chicago Fire in 2022 and then to Villa Park a year later for a reported €29.5m.
His rapid development under Unai Emery appeared to mark him out as a significant talent, but he left for Al-Nassr in January 2025 in a deal worth €77m. Since then, his career has taken in short-lived loan spells at Fenerbahçe and Zenit St Petersburg before his current stint in Portugal.
Ángel told Win Sports he was delighted when the younger Colombian initially signed for Villa, pointing to the environment Emery had created. He noted that the manager would have aided Durán’s progress significantly, adding that it was unfortunate he departed quickly just as he was demonstrating his abilities.
The former forward remains convinced that Durán possesses the tools required at the highest level. He described him as physical, fast and capable of leading an attack, with a strong shot and aerial presence, while stressing that multiple clubs have gambled on those attributes during his brief career.
With the summer transfer window now closed until January 2027, Durán’s immediate future lies entirely with Benfica. Ángel concluded by expressing hope that the striker finds stability soon, noting that his characteristics remain highly valuable in the modern game.
