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Aston Villa have started to exert their influence over Spanish side Real Unión, with U21 coach Iñigo Idiakez being installed as the club’s new manager.

That’s according to El Diario Vasco, who say manager Fran Justo has been relieved of his job just a few days after the collaboration agreement between the Txuribeltz club and Aston Villa became official.

The newspaper explains that the San Sebastian native had been the coach of Aston Villa’s U-21 team but Villa have begun to make ‘strategic decisions’ at the Stadium Gal and replacing the management is the first sign of that fact.

Justo was told of the decision a few days ago but the move was made official on Tuesday, when the team returned after the Christmas break.

Idiakez is therefore leaving England to return to a club where he played for eight seasons, he’s only been with Aston Villa’s academy since the summer.

The agreement between Villa and Real Unión was finalised a month ago when president and co-owner of Aston Villa, Nassef Sawiris, travelled to Stadium Gal to sign the deal with the president of the Spanish side, Igor Emery and his brother, Unai Emery.

The former has since explained how the agreement will work out and it seems this change of manager is the first step to be taken.