Ex-Aston Villa star retired early and now claims new business could make £1billion in profits

Jota has swapped jetting off for football matches for jetting off for business meetings, and it could be about to pay off.

The former Aston Villa, Birmingham and Brentford man retired in 2021 aged just 31, and isn’t struggling for motivation.

While many players are left in the wilderness after hanging up their boots, the Spaniard, whose full name is Jose Ignacio Peleteiro Ramallo, has found an incredible second wind.

Investing in an agricultural technology company, Jota believes it could be the iPhone of farming.

“We are like the iPhone,” he told The Athletic. “Before that, you had letters, fax machines and telephones, but the iPhone puts it all into one and doesn’t cost too much and will be better quality. We did the same in agriculture with all technology on one machine.

“I knew when I left football, I had something really big on my hands. We’re not talking about opening up a restaurant — I’ve invested so much money into this. 

“The value of the company has projections that show this will be the world’s biggest agriculture company in three years.

“Our profit projections will be so big, no matter how much money someone offers me [for my stake], it will not be enough.

“Our projections say we will make £1billion profit. Imagine how much money it will make in a year. It’s crazy. I am working 24/7 to do that.

“We have had ups and downs because we are investing so much money into something new that you don’t know will work. 

“I feel extremely proud because I know a lot of people were saying to me, ‘This is crazy’. Now, these people are saying, ‘Oh my word, this is making huge money’.”

Before retiring, Jota was a star in the Championship with Brentford and Birmingham, and long pencilled in for a move to the top flight.

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