- Francesco Calvo has spoken out about the differences between working for a club in Italy compared to England, stating there is a lot more “unity” in the latter
- He has also discussed Aston Villa’s Europa League win and how it was an easy decision to leave Juventus
Aston Villa’s President of Business Operations, Francesco Calvo, believes there is “much more unity” in English clubs than in Italy, and has compared the Premier League to the NBA.
Modern football is rapidly transforming into a multi-billion-pound global industry. This shift often comes at the expense of the traditional community roots that built the sport.
Over the last decade, European heavyweights have increasingly structured themselves like rigid financial institutions. This development has fundamentally altered how clubs operate internally and interact with their fanbases.
A prime example of this transition is Francesco Calvo, the seasoned sports executive, who spent two highly influential tenures at Juventus. He served as Managing Director of Revenue and Institutional Relations, guiding the Bianconeri through major strategic overhauls and financial challenges.
In 2025, Calvo decided to resign from the Italian giants to embrace a new challenge in England, officially joining Villa as their President of Business Operations, replacing the departing Chris Heck.
Calvo’s move offers an inside look into the shifting cultural difference between European football and the booming Premier League Market.
In an interview with Corriere Torino, he shares his motivations for leaving Turin and provides his perspective on the differences between Italian and English football.
Reasoning for leaving Juventus
Leaving Juventus was surprisingly straightforward for Calvo despite his history with the club. He noted a distinct shift in the internal culture of the team, which he felt had drifted from its core value.
“Leaving this Juve wasn’t too difficult for one reason: the club I spent time with has always been a family, while now I feel like that spirit has been lost, as has the human aspect.”
Today, he feels the club treats individuals more like corporate numbers than human beings.
“Agnelli, Marotta, Cherubini: they’re the people who make the difference. Now they seem more like numbers than people.”
Italy compared to England
The 48-year-old directly contrasted the operational styles of Italian and English football clubs. In Italy, he believes egos across all levels of management often cloud their primary objectives.
“In Italy, everyone is a key player – players, coaches, managers, presidents, each with their own ego; in England, only players and coaches are.
“There’s much less politics, people work more calmly, and things are done with a clear business objective in mind. There’s much more unity of purpose in creating a winning product model; in Italy, that’s very rare.”
He also compared the Premier League to the NBA, describing it as the “pinnacle of football.” The environment offers him full responsibility and constant learning opportunities.
“The Premier League is the pinnacle of football, like the NBA is for basketball. I’m in a top position, I have full responsibility for what I do, and I learn a lot. I don’t know if it’s a point of arrival, maybe looking back, but it’s certainly also a starting point.”
Europa League win
Calvo went on to highlight Villa’s unity during their Europa League win, and praised the close connection between the club and its supporters.
“It was a unique evening. For the club, for the players, some of whom, like captain McGinn and Mings, have come all the way from the Championship to the top. And for the fans who have been waiting for this success for 44 years.
“The bond between club and fans here in England is unlike anything else. We experienced incredible emotions.”
The Italian also addressed the presence of Villa’s most famous supporter, Prince William, whom he commended for his humbleness.
“He’s the biggest fan of all, but he’s very respectful of everyone and doesn’t want to draw attention to himself because he knows that in those moments, the players, the coach, and the club are the real stars.”
ReadAstonVilla verdict
In the Unai Emery era, there is a much deeper connection between the club and the supporters compared to previous managers. The atmosphere is a lot brighter, as Villa are heading in the right direction, and continue to grow.
Calvo’s priority is focusing on maximising revenue streams, whilst navigating the strict financial rules, to keep up with the success on the pitch. However, he must not do it at the expense of the club’s core identity – the fans.
