Best Years Of My Life

With one eye on Juventus, the sun and a new country, Olof Mellberg has revealed he wants to leave Villa on a high considering the Villa years were the best of his career.

Speaking on the official site, the centre half formerly known as the 'Bearded Wonder' said that he hopes he can leave us with a foot in Europe, and after spending seven years with us - go out knowing that the club will continue to grow and go on to achieve what it never could during his years with us.

'It would be nice to finish on a high and qualify for Europe and for the club to take another step next season.

'It will be hard to leave. I've had a great time - my best footballing years - and made many friends. I feel a lot for the club and for the fans and people within the club as well. It's been a great time.

'I thought it was the right time to move. You never know but it felt like the right time. They came along and they've been interested in me for quite some time and they've followed me both with the national team and Villa.'

He believes we are well placed despite recent slip ups and given our youthful nature he thinks the future is definitely bright.

'There's quite a gap now up to the fifth spot. But we're still challenging for the Intertoto with Man City and Portsmouth so you still have a chance to qualify for Europe.

'We've got other young talented players (as well as Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young) who are doing well so I think the future is bright.'

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