With the news of Leon Bailey looking increasingly likely to leave Aston Villa and head to Fenerbahçe, there is the possibility of the two clubs meeting up against each other in Europe.
For the time being, the Süper Lig side is slated to compete for a chance to still qualify for Champions League. Their second-place finish in their domestic league wasn't enough to earn an automatic berth. If they end up not being able to advance from the qualification rounds, however, they would then take a spot in Europa League.
In that competition, any number of possibilities always remain on the table. Most likely fate would help to play a part and make it so that Villa would then be matched up against Fenerbahçe.
This is a José Mourinho side that already does and will add to their roster former Villans. Already with Marco Asensio, Jhon Durán, and Diego Carlos, Bailey appears to soon be another former Villa player who will play for Fenerbahçe.
Setting aside the concerns of conspiracy theorists for a moment, it would be just something that happens to Villa in which an eventual UEL draw sees them facing a side with many of their former players.
Potentially interesting future Aston Villa development
While there would be a lot of headlines and stories in the build-up to that eventuality, the focus for Unai Emery would continue to be of focus and not being preoccupied with who is or isn't on the other team's roster. For fans, however, it would be a chance to remember some of the better moments of the former players from when they were with the club. By the same token, it wouldn't be what anyone wants to see, to have a side with former Villans and then be the ones to eliminate Villa from what many are pinning the club's silverware hopes on.
Fate, or intervention from any other type of source, would make it anything but a surprise to see Villa needing to defeat Fenerbahçe en route to a Europa League trophy in Istanbul.