Credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Tue 23 September 2025 16:30, UK

Monchi looks set to complete a shock exit at Aston Villa.

Fears have started to build among Villa fans that Unai Emery could follow Monchi out the door in B6 as a departure looks set to be confirmed.

Stan Collymore is already assessing replacements for Villa, with the transfer chief seemingly on his way out of Villa Park after two years.

This potentially comes off the back of the summer window, where UEFA’s imposition of sanctions on Villa had a sizable impact on the Villans’ spending.

Now, delving deeper into the imminent exit of Monchi, it appears that the writing may have been on the wall after a summer hire in the Midlands.

Monchi was doomed after Francesco Calvo appointment

With Chris Heck departing at the end of last season, there was always going to be a need for a new face in the President of Business Operations role.

This saw Villa bring in Calvo from Juventus as the Italian handed in his resignation with the Old Lady to force a move to B6.

There was initial optimism that this could be a positive move, given the prior relationship with Monchi that the new hire had.

With that being said, it does appear that there is an element of frostiness between the pair, considering the trend that has followed them both.

This comes after the Spaniard joined Roma in April 2017, where he stayed until March 2019, but ultimately moved on, in a return to Sevilla as Sporting Director.

The question is why he left, but it does seem increasingly convenient that he opted to move on just eight months after Calvo came in at the Stadio Olympico.

Roma brought in the Italian from Roma in August 2018, and he has since gone on to link up with Villa, once again alongside Monchi.

Now, just three months later, Emery’s compatriot has moved on in the midst of Calvo coming in on the business side of operations in the Midlands.

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Francesco Calvo has point to prove at Aston Villa

There is no hiding away from the mixed level of transfer business that Monchi has pulled off since being at the helm at Bodymoor Heath.

With that being said, the relationship between the Spaniard, Emery and Damian Vidagany was the beating heart of Villa in recent years.

As a result, moving him on, potentially due to the negative relationship with Calvo, could pile further pressure on the new business president’s shoulders moving forward.

Now, he will have a point to prove in the Midlands, although this could prove to be a blessing after the stale nature of Villa’s campaign to this point.

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