Alan Pace eyes overseas matches as Espanyol seek to escape Barça’s shadow | OneFootball

Alan Pace is Espanyol president and has set out to raise the club’s global profile, attract tourists and step out of Barça’s shadow. He is open to staging matches abroad, notably in the United States, to widen appeal.

According to L'Équipe, former majority shareholder Chen Yansheng sold part of his stake to Velocity Sport Limited for €130 million in October, ending Rastar Group’s control dating back to 2016. Pace’s group also owns Burnley, and he says the clubs are independent entities.

He avoided repeating his predecessor’s promise to reach the Champions League within three years, though Chen remains a minority shareholder. At his unveiling, Pace said his aim is to show Espanyol are a great club and to make that known to the many visitors to Barcelona. He also noted that any investment must fit La Liga’s financial fair play, which he said is stricter than in England.

Espanyol sit fifth in La Liga, occupying a Europa League spot, after a turbulent spell featuring relegations in 2020 and 2023. The latter came as Barça celebrated the title with a win at the RCDE Stadium, an outcome that sealed Espanyol’s drop. Many fans invaded the pitch and directed anger at the hierarchy.

Under Manolo Gonzalez, the side have made an unexpectedly strong start. The new owner intends to wait before putting his stamp on the club.

Source: L'Équipe