Ellis shoots down Angel move

13 April 2012

The farcical move of Colombia striker Juan Pablo Angel to Aston Villa disintegrated into total shambles last night when Doug Ellis scuppered the deal.

With FIFA, Villa boss John Gregory, Angel's Argentine club River Plate, and the player's advisers all finally agreeing that the £9.5million deal could be concluded, the one man who said 'No' was the Villa chairman.

Sportsmail has learned that Gregory was so certain Angel would be a Villa player in time for Saturday's Premiership visit of Liverpool that he told Angel's advisers on Monday night to fly over from Argentina.

Angel, 26, was due to follow last night with an unveiling arranged at Villa Park this afternoon until Ellis backed out.

His reluctance to underwrite the deal is a further sign of his degenerating relationship with Gregory, whose mood is understood to be one of resigned frustration at this latest thwarting of his ambitions by the chairman.

Ellis had originally refused to sanction the move because of claims by Angel's agents, Gustavo Muscardi and Fernando Hidalgo, for an £800,000 commission from Villa. However, those obstacles were cleared and Villa received faxes from River Plate confirming FIFA approval for the deal.

That led manager Gregory to believe that the striker he was banking on to turn his club's season around would be able to make his debut at Villa Park this weekend.

Not only did Ellis renege on his club's commitment to the transfer - a move which will infuriate Villa supporters who have already vented their anger at a chairman they believe wants success without spending money - he is also believed to be making moves now to bring a player to the Midlands club Gregory no longer wants.

In attempting to resurrect a cut-price transfer of South Africa striker Benni McCarthy to Villa Park, Ellis will try to placate fans who have called for him to quit the Premiership club.

Gregory's interest in McCarthy has cooled with the player frequently left out by his Spanish club, Celta Vigo, this season.

Angel's advisers, meanwhile, are furious at what they consider a lack of honour on Ellis' part.

According to sources in Argentina, River Plate are even considering suing Villa over the affair. 'We are very, very surprised at this U-turn,' Gustavo Arribas, Angel's solicitor told Sportsmail last night.

'We were sure that the only problem with the transfer was the irregularity over the agent's fee. Now that has been cleared up and FIFA have given their blessing. So what is the problem now?

'Tell us on what basis it is illegal now?

'We did the deal because of John Gregory, even when there was interest from Parma and Napoli in Italy. And now we, like him, have been left feeling very uncomfortable.'

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