January is behind the corner. This means transfer windows, market. But different markets take place in different continents and countries. For European and Mexican clubs is a mid season market, for North and South America, as well as for China it will be the market to prepare the new season. Wether we like it or not, the market is part of this game.

 

It’s always been like that, since the times of Di Stefano, Nordhal and Puskas. The difference is that till the 90’s the market had never been so important financially. Until then, the role of the market was mainly“emotional”. Bringing a big, famous player, sometimes a legend, was exciting for the supporters; it made them and the owners – or boards – proud of their clubs. That was even more true when a club succeeded in “stealing” a player to a rival. Another relevant factor was the exotic charm that foreign players always caused between the supporters.

 

Now, since the 90s’the importance of the football market is crucial as it represents one of the financial grounds on which a club (a company) operates. In fact it is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) financial activity for a club. Through a well studied and executed transfer market policy, a club can yearly earn considerably more than what it can obtain from match days marketing and sponsorships. There are also earnings from tv rights and real estate operations, that can compete and possibly even overcome those of a smart transfer market, it’s true.

 

But how many clubs in each country have real estate resources and super profitable tv rights? Some, but still few. How many have the transfer market? All of them.

 

So the question is now if clubs are ready and brave enough to implement a smart transfer market strategy. Clubs that do so, will soon have developed enough to have millions of earnings on their balance, and moreover will possibly be able to increase their supporters, realize sponsorship and real estate operations. Udinese (Italy) and Celta de Vigo (Spain) are just an example of how a football club can grow and develop thanks to the market policy.

 

They made their fortune thanks to an opened and courageous attitude on the transfer market.