Source: Daily_Mail
I'll be back: Villa new boy Downing reveals Boro homecoming plans
England winger Stewart Downing has vowed to return to home-town club Middlesbrough one day.
The 24-year-old academy graduate yesterday completed a £12million move to Aston Villa, but has revealed he has already spoken to chairman Steve Gibson about going back to the Riverside Stadium later in his career.
I'm sure we'll meet again: Downing salutes the Boro fans at the end of last season
He told Boro's official website: 'One day, I will be back. I would love to do that. In fact, I have already spoken to Steve Gibson about it.
'I want to play at the top level and be with a club that can compete for European places, but if Boro get back to that then who knows what might happen in the future?
'I'm a Boro fan and I want the club to do well. There are some really good players here and I'm sure they will be up there this season.'
Meanwhile Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate admitted the club had beenresigned to losing England winger Stewart Downing for some time.
Southgate knew the writing was on the wall as the midfielder grew increasingly unsettled, ultimately handing in a transfer request which was rejected in January as Tottenham once again set their sights on him.
He told BBC Radio Tees: 'We have felt for quite a while now thatit was going to be very difficult to hang on to Stewart beyond the endof last season whichever division we had been in.
'It's a good deal for us and Aston Villa have got a player that Martin had coveted for a while.
'We wish him well and I hope it works out for him.'
But while the Boro boss has been mourning the loss of his star player, Villa manager Martin O'Neill has been fending off suggestions Downing's arrival spells the end of Ashley Young's Villa career.
With the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and even Real Madrid said to beinterested in the former Watford man, speculation has been rife thatYoung could be on his way from Villa Park.
The signing of Downing only adds more fuel to the fire, but O'Neillinsisted last night: 'There have been a lot of stories about Ashley -and that's what they are - stories.
'No-one has come in and asked us about Ashley Young and I have got to tell you, if they did they would get short shrift.'
