Former transfer chief explains how Aston Villa missed out on major summer target
Villa’s former transfer chief has confirmed financial restrictions caused them to miss out on Marco Asensio in the summer transfer window.
The Spain international was keen to join from Paris Saint-Germain on a permanent basis after a successful loan spell last season and Monchi, Villa’s then president of football operations, was confident of getting the deal done.
But in the end the club were unable to get it over the line due to PSG’s financial demands, with Villa restricted in their spending by Uefa’s fair play rules.
Asensio ended up moving to Fenerbahce in the final days of the window for £6.5million.
Monchi, who left his his role in September, told El Desmarque: “I thought he (Asensio) was going to end up at Villa Park, which was the goal.
“But well, in the end, mainly for financial reasons, because PSG was being tougher on us and Marco was also worried, he was nervous.
“He saw that the transfer market was going on and it wasn’t closing and he opted for Fenerbahce.
“Let’s hope for his luck. It’s true that I thought, we all thought, that he could end up at Villa Park, because he had also had six very good months previously.”
Monchi, who first joined Villa in 2023, has retained a consultancy role with Villa’s ownership group, V Sports.
He was replaced as president of football operations by fellow Spaniard, Roberto Olabe.
Monchi continued: “It’s been a complicated summer. A difficult summer, where we’ve had to be very imaginative when planning due to many circumstances,” he said.
“After two very successful years, both financially and sportingly, I think all parties saw, visualized, that the next steps perhaps needed a little more strength. I was already a little short.
“We had a very friendly conversation with two people who had known each other many years ago, both Unai and I. And then with the ownership, we felt it was time.”
