Former Aston Villa president of football operations Monchi has moved to reassure supporters about the commitment of the club’s owners.
Monchi left Villa last month and was succeeded by Roberto Olabe, who joined Villa from Basque side Real Sociedad.
The outing executive remains connected to V Sports, the club’s ownership company, in an advisory role across the group. In a recent interview, Monchi explained what that role actually looks like and shed some light on V Sports and its relationship with Villa.
“It’s a much more secondary role. And well, a bit in that role, but as I said, a very distant figure and an on-demand consultancy,” Monchi told El Desmarque.
“The owners of Aston Villa are a company called V Sports, which is made up of three people. Before, there were two, now there are three: Nassef Sawiris, Wes Edens, and Michael Angelakis.
Angelakis is the chief executive officer and chairman of Atairos, an investment firm that became a minority partner in V Sports two years ago.
“V Sports also owns a few other clubs, has shares in Portugal, also has some collaboration with Real Unión, and they’re growing to try to form an Aston Villa Group.”
Villa is the primary V Sports concern but the group also owns Aston Villa Women separately from club itself and holds 29% of northern Portuguese club Vitória and a quarter of Real Unión, the club V Sports co-owns with Villa manager Unai Emery.
It also has significant partnerships with ZED FC in Egypt, J1 League champions Vissel Kobe and ASEC Mimosas, based in the Ivorian city of Abidjan.
V Sports’ future plans have been subject to some speculation, with the company rumoured to be planning to bring another major European club into the fold.
Sevilla, a La Liga club where Emery was previously employed, have been mentioned as a possible target but Monchi poured cold water on the idea.
“They’re considering buying some satellite clubs to continue their policy, but small-scale clubs,” said Monchi.
“I don’t see it as a parallel, not even talking about Sevilla, I don’t see it being Aston Villa and another major club. I don’t see it as a parallel today.
“I’ve spoken with Nassef, with whom I had the closest relationship. They’re very focused on their investment in Aston Villa. There will be a redevelopment of Villa Park, which will have 10,000 more seats, and a lot of money will be invested there.”
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