Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl insists he had no fears about James Ward-Prowse joining Aston Villa.
The Saints skipper resisted interest from Villa this summer and signed a five-year contract extension with the south coast club.
Hasenhuttl told theDaily Echo: "There was not for one minute a fear that he would leave us, to be honest. I was relatively sure that he knows the role he has to play for this club.
"It's more than losing a very good footballer, a free-kick expert, he's a real model for our club and it's always helpful when you have someone like that here.
"He's somebody that the young lads are looking up to and want to do the same, and this is why it was important that he was then committing even more to the club."
He added: "I think we found a solution where we had a win-win situation for the club and for him. This is how it should be."
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