BarcelonaThe future of Espanyol depends, more than ever, on the youth team. The problems it causes make the talent that is trained at the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque take on even more importance. It is a sporting necessity, but also an increasingly economical one. The commercial balance of Espanyol, if only the operations of buying and selling footballers are taken into account, presents a surplus of more than 23 million euros during the presidency of Chen Yansheng. Almost 66 million of the nearly 149 million euros that Espanyol has received from the sale of players since 2016, 44% of the total, correspond to transfers of names raised at home.
A percentage they intend to increase from the noble offices of the Stage Front Stadium. It is no coincidence that the owner, the CEO and the sporting director highlighted the strategic importance of the youngster as an engine of the future at the last shareholders’ meeting. It is an asset that requires a low investment and that, in return, offers a high return. “The first team is the locomotive of the club in the short term, but we know that redefining the horizon of the entity in the medium and long term happens, unequivocally, to refocus efforts and attention on the youth,” said Chen Yansheng. Fran Garagarza, for his part, emphasized the need to have “a strategic plan that goes towards a training model”.
But the most indicative approach was the one verbalized by Mao Ye: “There is a plan and a strategy to get out of this situation. Like all companies, we are working to contain expenses and increase income.” A position that is evidenced in the club’s latest annual accounts: “The plan to reduce expenses that the club has implemented mainly includes a clear commitment to make the squad profitable and to contain the personnel expenses of the corporate and sports structure, as well as those of the first team”.
In other words, until Espanyol is consolidated in Primera again, it will not be able to offer large salaries again. Only those who accept moderate salaries will be able to extend their contract. An example is the renewals of Pol Lozano and Omar El Hilali until 2027. Those who have too high expectations will have to leave. This is the case of Luka Koleosho, who did not want to renew when he had one year left on his contract. Espanyol paid just over 17 million for the Englishman, Darder, Víctor Gómez and Simo last summer. Except for Artà, the rest are under 23 years old.
Melamed, the next one to leave for free?
Espanyol’s squad, which celebrated its centenary this year, is a hen that lays golden eggs that, lately, the white-and-blue club has not been able to take advantage of enough. The clearest example is players who have left for free after deciding not to renew. Melamed, the latest case, aims to follow in the footsteps of Pau López, Melendo, Pedrosa and Jutglà, players who have reached a combined market value of more than 65 million euros between 2019 and 2022, according to the specialized portal Transfermarkt, and for whom Espanyol will not pay any euros.
They are not the only talents trained at Dani Jarque that Espanyol have not been able to take advantage of: Eibar sold Joan Jordán for 14 million after buying him for one; Betis signed Edgar González after signing him on a free transfer, and Las Palmas enjoy the leadership of Saúl Coco, who Espanyol also let go for free. Now the club is looking for solutions in the market for the defensive fragility it suffers from. The instability experienced by the organizational chart of the sports area and grassroots football, with five managers in seven years, has led to numerous painful departures. Now it’s Garagarza’s job to put order in a capital area to retain young talent. Espanyol’s future is at stake.
2023-12-22 15:33:03
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