Rubén Vargas and Villarreal will cross paths again this Wednesday.
Their journeys could have been parallel, but the twists of the summer and winter transfer windows prevented it.
Villarreal wanted Vargas, and Vargas wanted to join Villarreal, but the offer Sevilla received was not enough. Above all, the then-coach Matías Almeyda prioritized keeping the Swiss winger over other squad members like Lukebakio, who eventually left.
Sevilla signed Vargas in January 2025 for €2.5 million from German side Augsburg, setting a release clause of €40 million.
Villarreal sounded him out in the summer for less than €10 million and eventually raised their offer to just over that amount. Sevilla rejected it, and Vargas stayed at Nervión, turning in a more than promising start to the season—scoring three goals and providing four assists before getting injured.
And that was the turning point.
Vargas suffered a severe muscle injury at the end of November, keeping him off the pitch for two months.
Despite that, Villarreal was ready to try again in January. Sevilla, for its part, was much more open to a sale. But Vargas returned on January 12, only to suffer a relapse eight minutes after stepping onto the field, leaving him out for another two months and ruining any chance of a transfer.
Now, Vargas has gone two months without injury, but his contribution has been just one assist. His form is at its lowest point, and the fear of another physical setback that could cost him a spot in the World Cup—where he will surely go with Switzerland—is very real. Sevilla needs him more than ever to secure survival, and against his biggest suitor, he has a major opportunity.