José Ángel Crespo
This morning Spanish team Córdoba CF announced that Aston Villa had signed its fullback José Ángel Crespo.
The supposed signing announced on the club’s official Twitter at 8.28am (Spanish time) does seem a little odd, if true, considering the player is 28-years-old and the team got relegated from La Liga last season (first time in Spain’s top division since 1971/72).
Córdoba also stated that: “The defender, after an agreement in principle between the clubs, travels to England today to undergo a medical before signing.”
At six foot, Crespo is a utility defender known to be able to cover all positions across the back four, yet he hasn’t seemed to have settled at any club since coming through the ranks at Sevilla.
In his five years at Sevilla he only made 25 appearances for their first team with most of his games (70+) for their ‘B’ team. And since then, he’s skipped from one club to another in Spain and Italy, with Padova in the 2010-11 season, the only time he’s played consistently, with 43 appearances in the lower regions of Italian football.
He played 27 times for Córdoba their brief stay in La Liga last season.
One explanation for this transfer is if it’s a product of a ‘Moneyball’ approach by Villa’s new Sporting Director Hendrik Almstadt. With the player expected to cost less than a million, maybe his stats suggest a better player than his actual appearance record dictates?
The same could have been said about Carles Gil, although he still had youth on his side.
It’s an odd signing, and it’s best to approach with caution in terms of him being a regular in the first team. Squad cover is more likely his role.
UTV
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Shocking news!surely it can’t be true?? I well wish we were after Austin…. But yes we need to strengthen at the back but not with this guy!
The only reports I have read from people who watch Spanish football reckon this guy is a star – I wonder why you say different?
Look at his record…for a 28-year-old, he’s jumped around clubs and rarely makes many appearances per season. Sherwood must have seen something though.
this could tie in with rumours that Baker ,Cissokho & Senderos have been told to find new clubs , especially if talk of strengthening in other areas of the team are true as it would free up 2 spaces in the squad