August 4, 2022
The brief from today:
Como attracting investors
Serie B side, Como, are making business moves this summer, and not just on the transfer market. The Italian side lost their professional status after financial struggles saw them demoted to Serie D after the 2017/18 season, but one year later, they regained their status after finishing on top of the standings. It was then, in 2019, that Indonesian investment arrived through Djarum Group, and its billionaire owners Michael Hartono and Robert Hartono. The new ownership recruited former Chelsea midfielder, Dennis Wise, as their CEO, and under him the club made their way back up to Serie B in 2021. Como made the headlines recently with their signing of Cesc Fabregas, but what came out of the transfer was news that the Spanish midfielder had also bought shares in the club. Following on from that, Dennis Wise seems to have attracted more investment from another former Arsenal player: Thierry Henry. While things haven’t officially been finalized, discussions are advanced, and all that remains is for Henry to sign the pertinent paperwork to become a shareholder. Como kick off their season next weekend against Cagliari, and it will be the first opportunity for the club to display progress on the field similar to what is developing off of it.
Como CEO, Dennis Wise (left), with Fabregas during the latter’s presentation after joining the club
Barcelona’s summer
The Barcelona transfer market has bemused many this summer. From announcing debts over €1 billion, to their “financial levers” and massive spending despite the aforementioned amount owed, Barca is operating in a way that only they seem to understand. Part of the issue they are facing with all their spending, is that current squad size, along with the ongoing debt, means they can’t register their new signings. The league’s financial fair play rules limit the percentage that payroll can occupy on a club’s books to 70 percent of total revenue; with numerous unwanted players still on the club’s payroll, the new ones can’t be registered to play in official matches yet. Last summer/season, facing similar issues, current players were asked to take wage cuts, and agree to deferred payments so new signings could be registered. Players like Pique, Busquets, and Sergi Roberto all agreed to this. Fast forward to this summer, and the spending on new players hasn’t stopped, but two other things have remained constant: there are still unwanted players at the club, and players are still being asked to agree to wage cuts—namely Busquets and Pique. The likes of Braithwaite and Umtiti, among the contingent no longer wanted, are being threatened with not receiving squad numbers for the upcoming season in an effort to force them out. The issue, as far as those players are concerned, is that they are still under contract, and still owed money by Barca—both future and deferred wages. Making their departures more complex is their lengthy relegation to the sidelines has reduced any real interest in them, especially with their lucrative salaries. On the other end of the spectrum, in demand midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, is also refusing to accept a transfer for the same reason: current/future payments, as well as €17-18 million in deferred salary. Apparently even Messi, who left last summer, is still owed money, and so naturally the players aren’t inclined to simply give Barca what they want. All this makes the request, yet again, to Busquets and Pique that they accept wage cuts even more baffling. How the club continues to spend lavishly despite their debt is one thing, but then to ask your current players to make financial sacrifices in the midst of that is rather audacious. As of now there is a standstill on multiple fronts, and with the league season starting next week, the new players will need to get registered somehow. The next few days will be telling to see which side relents and agrees to make concessions.
The man behind all the spending and requests at Barcelona: club president, Joan Laporta