Football isn’t a cheap business, and it’s a well-known fact owners lose vast amounts of money trying to keep their clubs afloat.
As per an article by The Times in July 2023, professional clubs in England suffered a net loss of almost £1billion during the 2021/22 season.
The expediential losses have seen many clubs fall into financial ruin. Portsmouth, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton Wanderers, and more recently Reading, to name a few.
Aston Villa themselves also ran close to the wire in 2018, with talk of a winding up order potentially being issued.
During those difficult months, the club reportedly ran a £6million monthly loss on their outgoings (The Mirror).
Nassef Sawiris, Villa’s current co-owner, has the club in a far more favourable position, with Champions League football now a genuine possibility, something that would have been deemed impossible just a couple of years ago.
The Egyptian tycoon has opened up on why he loves owning a football club.
Nassef Sawiris’ Aston Villa motivation
According to the Financial Times, Villa are valued in the region of £500million.
Considering Sawiris acquired a 55 per cent stake for £30million in 2018, it’s easy to assume the club is viewed purely from a financial standpoint to the Egyptian.
However, in an interview with the Financial Times’ Arash Massoudi, Villa’s co-owner insisted owning the club is not financially motivated and that anyone who says they are is lying.
“Anybody who does football and says this is a pure investment, in 95 per cent of the case, he’s a liar, Sawiris said.
“It’s a passion. It’s addictive. And it can ruin your weekend and go into the following week.”
Sawiris’ comments can be taken with a pinch of salt, as he’s probably content with Villa’s current £500million valuation.
And if Unai Emery can steer the Villans into the top four, the club’s valuation will only rise further.
Whether that goal is achievable is certainly up for debate. Emery has been hit with several injury issues this season, with five first-team players on the sidelines.
Boubacar Kamara is the latest to join Villa’s growing list of injuries, with the 24-year-old Frenchman sustaining an ACL injury that will rule him out for the season.
For now, the aim must be to cement the club’s position in the European places. With Sawiris engrossed in Villa’s fortunes, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Emery given more financial backing come the summer transfer window.
