V Sports are reportedly set to finalise a partnership between Aston Villa and Spanish club Real Union, which Unai Emery has a majority stake in.

The Villa head coach bought a controlling stake in the third-tier club two-and-a-half years ago. Union is a LaLiga founding club that has fallen on hard times in recent years.

Since their relegation from the second tier in the 2009/10 season, Union has remained in the third division of Spanish football. Emery’s father and grandfather both played for the team based in Irundarra, just three miles from where the 52-year-old grew up.

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Emery's grandfather, Antonio, was a stalwart of Union and played 110 games for the Spanish club from 1928-1935. He was a goalkeeper.

Emery's father, Juan, also played 15 games for Union from 1957-59. He too was a goalkeeper by trade and played for nine clubs during his 16-year career, including Granada, Deportivo La Coruna and Alaves.

Noticias de Gipuzkoa now report that Union are set to receive fresh investment from V Sports. The Villa owners have cast their net far and wide to grow their portfolio, having already linked up with ZED FC and Vitória Sport Clube from Egypt and Portugal respectively.

Japanese club Vissel Kobe became the latest club to agree a strategic partnership with Villa earlier this year. As part of the new partnership with Vissel Kobe, both teams will work to create a bilateral development framework for players and staff which will enhance youth development, alongside cooperative sharing of ideas, techniques and best practice. Ultimately, it will open pathways for talented Japanese players to play in Europe and for Villa.

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