Valencia coach Gary Neville has welcomed the appointment of Jesus Garcia Pitarch as sporting director, saying he can bring extra La Liga knowledge to the club.
Garcia Pitarch, who was born in Valencia, was previously Los Che's sporting director during a very successful period from 2002 to 2004, although he famously fell out with then coach Rafa Benitez, who memorably questioned the club's transfer policy when he said: "I asked for a sofa and they bought me a lamp."
Having since had mixed success during stints with Atletico Madrid, Hercules, Real Zaragoza and Abu Dhabi club Baniyas, Garcia Pitarch has returned to Mestalla with a reported brief to work with Neville and club owner Peter Lim and put in place a more experienced squad management structure.
Speaking after Thursday's 3-0 Copa del Rey win at Granada, the former Manchester United player said he had already begun to build a good working relationship with Garcia Pitarch.
"It is something the club felt was needed," Neville said. "I met with him last week. I am happy, as now when I am asked in a press conference about transfers I can say you have to talk to him.
"He can help a lot, knows Valencia, knows La Liga. We were together today and have a good working relationship."
LLEGADA | Jesús García Pitarch ha viajado por primera vez con la expedición valencianista �� pic.twitter.com/gDWmm0BwJs
- Valencia CF (@valenciacf) January 14, 2016
It has been suggested that the appointment may lead to the club becoming less reliant on agent Jorge Mendes, whose close relationship with Lim has influenced transfer policy in recent times.
However, it has been noted by local reporters that he has done business with Mendes several times, bringing in players like Tiago Mendes, Diego Costa, Miranda, Simao and Silvio to Atletico, and Portuguese centre-forward to Helder Postiga to Zaragoza.
At his presentation on Wednesday, Garcia Pitarch told reporters that Valencia's club president Layhoon Chan had been behind his appointment and he had not spoken with Mendes recently.
"I respect Jorge Mendes, he is a great professional, like all the other agents, but I am here because of Lay Hoon, who called me and made me an offer," he said. "I have not spoken with [Mendes] for five or six months, since I saw him in Dubai. He was one of the agents I dealt least with, and they were all good deals."