Aston Villa fans may remember when, just over a week ago, Belmiro Pinto dos Santos had a strop about the club’s relationship with Vitória Guimarães via V Sports.
Pinto dos Santos had lost presidential elections at the Portuguese club to Rui Rodrigues earlier this year. He’s clearly still stung by that and won’t have given up on taking charge at some point in the future.
Aston Villa owners V Sports first acquired a 46% stake at Vitória in February 2023. In June of that year, they reduced it to 29% in order to not breach UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations. They had transferred 17% back to the Primeira Liga side.
Vitória have an Extraordinary General Assembly on October 30th, and the purpose of that is ‘to discuss the transfer of 17% of the club’s capital in the SAD to V Sports’.
As far as Pinto dos Santos sees it, V Sports will be in charge despite not having 50%, and Vitória will in effect be a feeder club for Aston Villa.
“It seems likely to be a transfer made free of charge. [The intention] is to transform Vitória SC into a mere shell club serving Aston Villa,” he said.
“In reality, the purpose of this extraordinary General Meeting is a sham that will facilitate fraudulent acts to the detriment of Vitória.”
What’s happened since then
Associates should probably keep an eye on Belmiro Pinto dos Santos as there’s a very good chance he’s about to blow his top again.
The latest developments further entwine Aston Villa and Vitória Guimarães, with Roberto Olabe being at the centre of it. At that meeting on October 30th, it won’t only be the share % up for approval.
Olabe, Aston Villa’s sporting director, is proposed to be added to the board of the Portuguese club. Bashir Lebada, also an Aston Villa director, is in the same situation.
Vitória already have a sporting director, Fernando Meira. Olabe will work alongside him to pursue the club’s development in that regard. Lebada will concentrate on the financial side.
In the lengthy documentation sent to those able to vote prior to the meeting, and which Sport Witness has seen, it’s explained that of the five directors, three will remain as part of the existing club shares. Theoretically then, the balance of control doesn’t change.
However, in reality, it’s understandable there’s suspicions V Sports will use Vitória as a place to grow talents who could then excel at Aston Villa. Portuguese football has an excellent record of bringing through South American talents.
Sport Witness reported exclusively in September that Aston Villa scouts are at work in Brazil. Vitória would represent an excellent halfway house for recruits. Whilst it may be causing concern for some in Portugal, the developments look great for Villa.
South America to the Premier League
Players who excelled at an intermediate club before moving to England
| Player |
Route before the Premier League |
Evidence of success before moving |
Premier League move |
Luis Díaz
Colombia |
Junior → Porto |
Scored 41 goals in 125 appearances for Porto, winning the Portuguese league and cup. |
Liverpool
January 2022 |
Darwin Núñez
Uruguay |
Peñarol → Almería → Benfica |
Scored 34 goals in 41 games in 2021/22, including 26 league goals to finish as Portugal’s top scorer. |
Liverpool
June 2022 |
Luis Sinisterra
Colombia |
Once Caldas → Feyenoord |
Registered 23 goals in 2021/22 and helped Feyenoord reach the Europa Conference League final. |
Leeds United
July 2022 |
Lisandro Martínez
Argentina |
Defensa y Justicia → Ajax |
Won two Eredivisie titles and the Dutch Cup; named Ajax’s 2021/22 Player of the Year. |
Manchester United
July 2022 |
Lucas Paquetá
Brazil |
Flamengo → AC Milan → Lyon |
Rebuilt his reputation at Lyon, scoring 21 goals in 80 appearances across two seasons. |
West Ham United
August 2022 |
Antony
Brazil |
São Paulo → Ajax |
Won back-to-back Eredivisie titles in 2021 and 2022, becoming a prominent member of Ajax’s attack. |
Manchester United
September 2022 |
Enzo Fernández
Argentina |
River Plate → Benfica |
Recorded 4 goals and 7 assists in 29 appearances; helped Benfica top a Champions League group containing PSG and Juventus. |
Chelsea
January 2023 |
Daniel Muñoz
Colombia |
Atlético Nacional → Genk |
Produced 19 goals and 20 assists in 148 appearances for Genk from his defensive position. |
Crystal Palace
January 2024 |
Igor Thiago
Brazil |
Cruzeiro → Ludogorets → Club Brugge |
Scored 29 goals in 2023/24, helping Club Brugge win the Belgian title and reach the Conference League semi-finals. |
Brentford
July 2024 |
Savinho
Brazil |
Atlético Mineiro → Troyes
Loans: PSV and Girona |
Contributed 9 goals and 10 assists in La Liga in 2023/24 as Girona finished third and qualified for the Champions League. |
Manchester City
July 2024
Signed from Troyes |
Evanilson
Brazil |
Fluminense → Porto |
Scored 60 goals for Porto, including 25 in 2023/24, his final season before moving to England. |
Bournemouth
August 2024 |
Period: Premier League arrivals between 22 October 2021 and 22 October 2026. Players may have left South America before this period.
Selection: Illustrative examples of players who established themselves at an intermediate club before their first Premier League move. Success refers to their performances before arriving in England. This is not an exhaustive list.
Routes: Show the relevant senior pathway rather than every career club. Savinho’s intermediate clubs included loan spells. Evanilson played for Fluminense before joining Porto; his registration had also been held by Tombense.
Statistics: All competitions unless a league is specified. Sources include official club announcements, PremierLeague.com and published transfer reports.
SPORT WITNESS
