Roberto Olabe’s best-ever signings amid Aston Villa sporting director links
Aston Villa supporters have every right to be excited about who may replace Monchi as the club’s director of football.
Monchi is set to depart Villa Park with immediate effect, with the Villans currently struggling at the bottom of the Premier League table following a disastrous summer transfer window.
Marco Bizot and Evann Guessand had been Unai Emery‘s only summer additions until transfer deadline day, when Victor Lindelof, Jadon Sancho, and Harvey Elliott signed for Villa across the dotted line.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein (23 September), the Villans are now in advanced talks to sign Roberto Olabe as their new president of football operations following his exit from Real Sociedad.
Following the news, Football Insider has taken a look at his best-ever signings during his time in La Liga.
Roberto Olabe’s best-ever signings ahead of Aston Villa move
Takefusa Kubo
Signed from Real Madrid in 2022, Takefusa Kubo has gone on to play 142 games for Sociedad, notching 24 goals and 15 assists in that time.
Due to the clauses in the Japan international’s contract, it is believed that he cost just £5.2million, and at just 24 years of age, the winger’s exit could eventually make some big profit in a few years.
Mikel Merino
Mikel Merino has made a name for himself at Arsenal, but before moving to England, the midfielder made just shy of 250 appearances for the La Liga giants.
It comes as no surprise to see that he scored 27 goals, and with various reports suggesting that he only cost £10million following a failed spell with Newcastle United, Arsenal‘s fee of £31.6million created some big profit [BBC Sport].
Martin Odegaard
While Martin Odegaard only spent a single season on loan at the Anoeta Stadium, he made an incredible impact, notching seven goals and nine assists in 36 appearances.
In the 2019-20 season, Sociedad finished sixth in La Liga, qualifying for the Europa League group stage. Having only had to cover the playmaker’s wages, it was a no-brainer signing from Olabe.
David Silva
Now retired from football, David Silva goes down as one of the greatest players to grace the Premier League, having spent a decade in the division with Man City.
Following his departure from the Etihad, Silva spent three full seasons with Sociedad, and the final of those three campaigns saw the club secure Champions League football with a fourth-place finish.
Alexander Isak
Undoubtedly, Alexander Isak is Olabe’s best-ever signing during his time as Sociedad’s director of football. Isak joined Liverpool for £125million this summer, highlighting his incredible potential.
He is believed to be one of the best strikers in the Premier League, only second to Man City’s Erling Haaland, and that could quickly change following his big-money move to Anfield.
If he were to find the next Isak for Emery’s team, that would solve a lot of problems moving forward. He could even have a huge impact once the winter transfer window rolls around.