New Aston Villa sporting director plays down Jorge Mendes link

The pair have been linked previously due to their involvement at Valencia, the club from which Pitarch resigned as sporting director in January last year.

Mendes, who has a major interest at Wolves, was understood to have been advising Villa’s new majority shareholders Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens following their arrival in July.

Pitarch’s appointment was seen in some quarters as an indication of his influence at Villa Park.

But while acknowledging he and Mendes are on good terms, the 54-year-old Spaniard believes their closeness has been over-stated.

“I have involvement with Jorge Mendes but also a lot of other agents,” he said.

“I personally have never had an agent. I have always negotiated my own contracts. In all my deals as a sporting director, at every club, I have been involved in many deals.

“With Jorge Mendes I made no more than nine, ten or 11 deals in these 150 deals. I’ve made more with other agents.

“I’m proud to have a good relationship with all agents but not especially Jorge Mendes.”

Pitarch has also previously worked at Valencia and Real Zaragoza.