Liverpool FC Forum

by **hawkmoon269** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:55 am

Wealthy Spanish businessman Juan Villalonga (52) is believed to be holding talks with Liverpool regarding a possible investment.

The flamboyant former president of Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica is reportedly seeking a "substantial stake" in the Reds.

Reports originating from Spain claim that Villalonga plans 'to increase the value of the club, modernise management and improve its domestic and global focus'.

by **BOODIDDY** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:13 am

wouldnt mind this spaniard in. If its good investment im all for it. Even mittal as long as they dont upset the morals of the club.

by **Paul C** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:52 pm

Judge wrote:
Lando_Griffin wrote:
Alanay wrote:He's been shopping the EU steel industries for quite sometimes to strengthen his steel empire. Recently, he lost a bid for the french steel company (if i'm not mistaken). Probably, that's why he doesn't know what to spend the money.

If he's in as an investor and get his return by profit sharing, I think it should be good. But, if he comes in to own LFC or become the biggest shareholder, I don't think it's good for LFC. We can end up just like Chels**t and not respected by the world. Main reason is simple, he's a businessman and always a businessman. I'm not sure whether he's a football fan or LFC fan or neither both. At the end of the day, he's concerned about how much is getting into his pocket.....

The thing is mate - when you've got £23,000,000,000 - you ain't that fussed about losing £100m on a punt.

Seriously - if this chap has got that sort of money, £100m to him is like 20p to you and me.

I don't want a punk running our club.

Poxy rich b*stard.

im stinking rich and am thinking of spending a few bob at lfc

Maybe in the supports shop

by **dawson99** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:25 pm

whos the tubby spanish alonso kinda looking guy whos thinking of putting 50 million into the club? anyone kno about him?

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:32 pm

dawson99 wrote:whos the tubby spanish alonso kinda looking guy whos thinking of putting 50 million into the club? anyone kno about him?

Juan Villalonga Navarro (born April 8, 1953) was appointed chairman of Telefónica, Spain's major telecom operator, in spring 1996. The post is one of the most influential in Spain. He was forced to resign in July 2000, following allegations of insider trading - but by then, he had increased the value of the company five-fold, and he left with a $25 m golden handshake. After staying in the background for seven months, his appointment to the board of directors of Univision, the US Spanish-language television network, was announced in February 2001.

Villalonga graduated in Law and Economics at the prestigious Deusto University in the Basque Country and holds a Master's in Business Administration from the Institute of Advanced Economic Studies in Barcelona. He was a partner at McKinsey & Co., based in the U.S., Portugal, Italy and Spain during his nine-year association with the consulting firm. Later he worked as a chief executive for the CS First Boston business bank's Spanish branch, and next for Bankers Trust, which sought to benefit from his excellent contacts in Madrid's political and business circles.

Villalonga was a childhood friend of Spanish premier José María Aznar, who picked Villalonga for the post of Telefónica supremo. Observers felt his appointment owed to the Spanish government's desire to have someone sympathetic, amenable and docile in the top seat at Telefónica, but Villalonga soon proved he had his own ideas on how the company should be run, and his tenure was characterized by a series of daring moves.

He consolidated the company's already strong position in Latin America, where Telefónica controls much of the telecom industry. He also concentrated on securing Telefónica's leading position in Spain in the face of new competition once the company lost the monopoly position it enjoyed until European Union regulations enforced a liberalization of the Spanish telecom market. In 1995, the first private cellular phone company (Airtel) was started. More cell phone operators and, later, land-line phone companies followed. In a final step, at the end of 2000, Telefónica was due to lose its monopoly over local telephone calls. Villalonga's strategy was to reduce the company's dependence on the Spanish market by spreading to Latin America and Europe, and by diversifying into other sectors such as television.

At the end of 1998 Villalonga launched Telefónica Interactiva, which the following year would become Terra, Telefónica's Internet portal, with the purchase and incorporation into the portal of Olé, one of the first of Spain's search engines. By September 1999 Terra had invested some $600 million buying up portal companies in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru and other Latin American countries. In November 1999 Terra went public and its shares rose spectacularly, amid controversy over stock options held by Telefónica executives.

In May 2000, in its most spectacular move, Telefónica announced the purchase of America's Lycos for $12.5 billion in stock, opening the US market of 30 million Spanish speakers to their portal Terra, and giving it access to parts of the world where Terra did not have a foothold, such as Asia.

But Villalonga's relationship with the government started to become strained in 1999, when Villalonga left his wife Concha Tallada, a close friend of Aznar's wife Ana Botella, for the vivacious Adriana Abascal, 18 years his junior and widow of Mexican TV magnate Emilio Azcárraga. Aznar, facing an upcoming general election, was also worried about controversy over the Terra stock option plan benefiting top Telefónica executives. In mid-June 2000 Villalonga came under attack by the Madrid daily El Mundo, edited by Pedro J Ramirez, which reported that he'd been involved in insider trading. Villalonga came under investigation by Spain's securities watchdog committee, the CNMV, amid rumours that he would be forced to step down as Telefonica chairman. He finally handed in his resignation in July 2000.

The day after leaving Telefónica, Villalonga attended his mother's funeral in Madrid. That was to be his last public appearance in 2000, and he spent most of the year in the US, while everyone wondered what project Villalonga would turn his talents to next. A position at Cisco Systems was initially mooted. In the end, though, Villalonga joined the American Spanish-language Univision network as a board member in February 2001. Meanwhile Bob Davis, founder of Lycos with whom Villalonga had hatched the Terra-Lycos match, resigned as CE of the resulting company at the beginning of February. He had gotten along famously with Villalonga, but never managed to establish a good working relationship with the new Terra Lycos president, Joaquim Agut, appointed after Villalonga's departure.

http://www.spainview.com/people/biog_villalonga.html

by **dawson99** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:37 pm

thats the guy...cheers chl

apparently hes very keen to invest

by **onizukaeikichi** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:40 pm

hope they arent just rumors please..

by **Paul C** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:38 pm

How much money does he have?

by **woof woof !** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:53 pm

bavlondon wrote:Following on from the Liverpool Echo's story about Liverpool apparently "securing" a good investment, it is alleged that the investor could be London-based Indian Billionaire Lakshmi Mittal.

In March 2006, he was reported to be the fifth wealthiest person in the world by Forbes Magazine (Up from 63rd richest in 2004), with an estimated wealth of US$23.5 billion.

That would raise a big dilema for many fans .

While we would certainly like to see a big chunk of money pumped into the club I'm sure many of us wouldn't want to be seen as "doin' a chelsea" .

I just want someone to quietly slip us £80 mill , take their season ticket and f'uck off .

by **JC_81** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:53 pm

It's all well and good talking about how much money these guys have and how much they'll plough into the club, but I'd be very careful to be honest. These guys aren't football men, they're business men. They won't put vast amounts of cash into a club without wanting something in return or having their own agenda. They didn't get rich by giving handouts for nothing.

We need investment long term, no question, but the board have to be very cautious about these type of guys I think. Whatever proposal we decide to go for has to be the right one. If a bad decision is made it could be very serious for the club in the long term, so the board is absolutely right to take it's time over this one.

Benitez is making steady improvement without vast amounts of cash so I don't think we have to rush into anything just yet.

People say 'but Benitez will walk if the board don't back him'. But don't forget, if Benitez were to make one or two expensive mistakes in the transfer market, it could be he who ends up under pressure. It's not always a good thing for a manager to spend big money all at once. I think he could do with a bit more spending money, but I think he's happy enough with what he has been getting to date.

by **onizukaeikichi** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 4:46 pm

http://www.koptalk.com/detail_subtitle_listing.php?link_id=1787&subid=2&sticky=0

Spanish businessman Juan Villalonga - the latest person to be linked with potential investment into the club - believes he can quadruple Liverpool's income if he's onboard.

The London-based controversial character is reportedly prepared to buy a stake in the club for £42million but there's no mention of any additional funding at this time although there are claims that he would be prepared to inject "massive cash".

Villalonga has employed Rothschilds to negotiate with Price Waterhouse Coopers who are acting on behalf of LFC who have refused to comment.

There are many question marks over his head though about his business activities with accusations of insider trading when he was president of Telefonica which eventually saw him resign from his position.

It is also unclear as to where where the money would come from, be it out of his own pocket or from the pockets of a consortium.

He has business interests around the world including his own construction business which builds low-cost housing in Eastern Europe and Latin America. He's also president of London-based internet telecome giant Telnic.

Liverpool have been looking for a minor investment like this one (in simple terms) rather than a total take-over/buy out which is what L4 were proposing.

ASSOCIATED LINK

Profile by SpainView.com

by **stmichael** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 5:05 pm

Sounds like he knows what he's doing business wise though even if he doesn't have the personal wealth to make a dramatic difference. Plenty of people say we're miles behind others off the pitch maybe this fella could come in and make some changes to create more money from what we already have. His methods seem somewhat unorthodox though or high risk.

Just a rumour at this stage anyway

by **48-1119859832** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:38 pm

Am I the only person who thinks that investment is a bad idea? I could well let it go if a company wanted to invest in Liverpool Football Club e.g Barclays Bank but I'm not sure on the whole invidual multi-billionnaire tycoons wanting to invest in our club. I'd much rather see us spending £10million max on a player and building up our revenue thru winning trophies etc.

My biggest concern is that we will be branded another Chelsea and Chelsea represent everything I despise within football, it wudn't be a smart move by David Moores & Rick Parry.

I'd like to see the Kraft family invest in our club, but even I am cynical sceptism of them also...

by **ICE-MAN** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 7:12 pm

All of this investment talk is very interesting, if at times, a little worrying!
Personally I would just like someone to come on board with the stadium (without renaming it) and invest with us to build the new stadium, then our revenues will increase a lot (i think 1million per game was mentioned)1 Rafa is doing a good job with the funds that he has, so if we got the new stadium up and running the increased revenues wud give him a bit more money in the transfer market!

I personally dont want to see the club make dramatic changes like chelsea did, i didnt like the vibes coming from the thai prime minister and i dont like them from either the indian guy or spanish guy!

I think the kraft family wud be a good option as they are football people, they own the new england revolution and have managed to build some stadiums over there apparently! Steve nicol came out and said since hes been managing the club in the US the kraft family have been very good to him, they stuck to the business matters and let steve get on with the coaching and managing of the club! They wouldnt want a massive overhaul of liverpool i think they would be willing to work with the current regime of parry and moores if possible! From what ive heard or read they are nothing like the glaziers as they have a big interest already in football, whereas the glaziers first interest in football is united!

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 8:08 pm

I don’t know how serious these rumours are about Lakshmi Mittal and Juan Villalonga but we do need investment. But this is investment for the stadium more than anything else, the cost of the stadium has escalated and if we are to maintain a competitive position over the coming years we cant afford to be borrowing ridiculous amounts of money from the bank.

In terms of transfer funds I don’t believe for one minute we are as hard up as some people think. A club the size of Liverpool will always be able to generate large sums of money for transfer activity and that’s without having to go to the bank. If we had cash to spend would we really go around shouting about it so that clubs start holding out for high prices when negotiating transfers? In January we spend nearly 8 Million on 2 defenders and were still willing to do business with Benfica concerning Simao, and that was going to be at least 8 Million.

We may not have unlimited money or a “war chest”, but I’m quiet sure that considering we will be in the Champions League next year most likely we will have at something at least close to £20 Million plus anything left over from players leaving. Also we are still suffering in terms of paying wages to players out on loan, hopefully that will be fixed next year and we will be on a better finical footing.

In terms of new leadership, despite the fact that David Moores clearly loves the club he hasn’t really helped us go forward off the pitch. Personally I think that Rick Parry hasn’t really achieved much as our Chief Executive and let the squad size get out of control under Gerrard Houllier, and this has set Rafa progress back a bit. I think we need someone to take care of the business side of things, whether this means replacing Rick Parry or creating a new position for some else.

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