Is Serie A benefiting from the Premier League’s wealth?

Date: 9th July 2016 at 3:49pm
Written by:

As English Premier League clubs continue to dominate the game in monetary terms, Marco Jackson takes a look at the knock-on effect of their wealth on Serie A.

pogba juventus

The amount of money that is present in the coffers of Premier League clubs is having a trickle down effect that is not just noticeable in its own numbers, but as those funds are spread around Europe, in diluted form elsewhere, too.

There has been no procession of players transferred between Serie A and England’s top flight to this point, though arguably Pierluigi Gollini’s move from Hellas Verona to Aston Villa still falls under that category.

Aside from Matteo Darmian, there have been few recent big money moves between the two leagues. Watford’s affiliation with Udinese has seen their squads bolstered one way or the other, and West Ham snapped up Angelo Ogbonna once Juventus had deemed him surplus to requirements.

It was not ever thus, as the Premier League has some rich Italian history. The likes of Fabrizio Ravanelli, Gianluca Vialli, Gianfranco Zola and Marco Materazzi all made their mark on thr English game in the late 1990s. Typically, the forwards produced their magic and are fondly remembered.

Meanwhile, Materazzi’s most memorable evening saw him at fault for a 44th second opener, equalise and later be sent off, all against a second tier Huddersfield Town side.

Far more footballers have travelled from elsewhere, with France and Germany the more common start points; the Bundesliga particularly benefiting from the huge TV rights deal in a way that perhaps suggests their more egalitarian model is so successful only because there are other more free market leagues that can pump extra money for their players.

Eight of Forbes’ Top 20 richest clubs are English, while just three are German. Behind a dominant Bayern, there is more parity in the Bundesliga.

materazzi everton

That level playing field is not present in Italy. Juventus are by far and away the richest club. They have the pick of the players for that reason and more besides. Their transfer work this season has been swift and clinical; improvements have been brought in where needed, and while there are a couple of transfer sagas on-going, they are for players who would not necessarily be crucial, just desirable.

In Paul Pogba, however, the Bianconeri have perhaps the transfer tale of the summer. Not yet fully ablaze as his participation in the European Championship continues, figures of €100 million being mentioned for his services demonstrate two things.

Firstly, Juventus have a wise person drafting out contracts. Pogba was always going to attract attention and a good many clubs would have devalued his deal with a release clause.

Secondly, without the need to sell, the Bianconeri are able to place whatever fee they want on Pogba knowing that if an English club want to pay it, they will.

Across the city, Torino have been paying attention. Bruno Peres has hardly been the best Granata player over the last few years, bright though he has shone on occasion.

With Manchester City said to be looking into the prospect of acquiring the Brazilian full back, his reputation and his value have gone up and up.

Similarly, when English clubs have been mentioned in conversations about Radja Nainggolan and Ivan Perisic, their values have shot through the ceiling. Neither have moved on yet, though their pricing – if carried through – would make the Premier League the only viable destination.

De Roon Atalanta

Marten de Roon’s departure from Atalanta will be keenly felt in Bergamo, but newly promoted Middlesbrough’s €15m will ease the blow a little.

Alberto Paloschi is thought to have taken around €6m to prise away from Swansea. Only Luca Cigarini has cost the Orobici more, and that only to be immediately sold on at profit.

There is two sides to this, as to every story. As Premier League clubs climb an ever steeper mountain, their previously acquired players are not good enough to keep them pushing up the road.

As Italian players have dropped out of favour, they can be snapped up on the cheap. Stipe Perica, Paloschi and Seko Fofana have all left England for Italy this summer, and there may well be more to come.

Already the improved Premier League TV deal is having effects almost across Europe, acting as a sort of footballing counterpoint to Brexit in which Europeans are so welcome in the UK, they will pay over the odds to bring them in.

While the adage that springs to mind might be about fools and their money being easily parted, that is perhaps not the case. It is more akin to the streets of a town on payday.

Suddenly restaurants that were too expensive have customers and the better wines are being uncorked.

Serie A, like every league in Europe, has spent some time setting the table for the Premier League. The bell has rung and the gluttons are descending – all that remains to be seen what is on the menu.

 

Comments are closed.