Timing is Everything: The Risks of Holding Onto World-Class Footballers
As a football enthusiast, it’s common knowledge that a football club’s success often hinges on the quality of its players. When a club manages to sign a talented player, it can be a game-changer, elevating the team’s performance and even securing coveted trophies. However, just as important as signing the right player is knowing when to sell them.
Unfortunately, some clubs fall victim to the temptation of holding onto a star player for too long, missing out on a potentially lucrative sale. This can have significant consequences, including a loss of revenue, missed opportunities to strengthen the team, and even a decline in the player’s performance as they approach the end of their prime years. It’s an issue that has plagued football clubs for decades, and one that highlights the fine balance between maximising a player’s value and ensuring the long-term success of the team.
Clubs holding on to a player too long causing the player’s value to depreciate or the contract running out and losing them on a free, I feel smaller clubs tends to try to hold on to their main stars/players too long without thinking what’s best for the clubs in the long run, yes holding onto your best player, the most valued player is always a good thing, but sometimes it can have a negative impact in your team. The team would over rely on him too much, they would rather pass to him then a player who is in a better position on the field, this is further emphasized when he is out of the team. It looks like a bunch of school kids running around without a teacher telling where to stand or what pass to make, this might be the downfall for the club. The player believes he is better than the rest of the team.
The risk of keeping hold of a player too long is his mentally on staying at the club, knowingly that he has the ability or potential to play at a bigger club, would he risk going into challenges or 50/50 with less effort, if he gets injured is his value will drop and the club would lose a fair amount of money on his valuation. He wouldn’t have his heart in the game because he has set his heart on another club, so his motivation wouldn’t be there.
The upside is that the club is guarantee a world class/top class player for another year, this would bring in better advertisement and endorsement deals to the club, you able to attract players of that similar ilk, the club doesn’t have to bring in one or two players to try and fill that position when he leaves, the player already knows the club and their team-mates so there isnt a bedding in/no transition period. The momentum built in the previous season can continue because the squad and players hasn’t been disrupted. There are potential positives to having a world-class player at your club. First and foremost, they can provide hope for the fanbase, giving them something to rally behind and boosting morale. Additionally, having such a player can attract other top talent to the team which could help improve its fortunes overall.
Selling a player at the right time is always a hard choose/decision, whether it’s at a world class club, mid-table club or a club fighting relegation. If we talking about money, financially the lower clubs can’t afford to keep a top-class player too long, the value of the player will inevitably decline over time as they age or suffer injuries, not selling the player at the right time the club will potentially miss out on a significant transfer fee that could be used to reinvest in the youth, training ground or the stadium, this can help the club in the future financially and keep them afloat.
I believe Raúl Jiménez of Wolves should have been sold in 2020 he was valued around £60-70 millions, they didn’t sell him and unfortunately, he got a head injury in 2021 and his value plummeted, at the time of writing he is worth £9 million. Wolves finished 7th in both 18–19 & 19–20 then 20–21 finished 13rd and in 21–22 10th. Also, I believe they should have sold Adama Traoré, his all-time high valuation was £40 million 2020, his form dipped and his value is now 12 million at the time of writing 2023.
While there are some potential benefits to holding onto a world-class player at a mid-table club, the negative consequences of not selling them at the right time far outweigh the positives. Financially, the club may miss out on a significant transfer fee, and the player’s career could suffer as a result. Furthermore, team morale may decline, and overall performance may suffer. As much as we may love to see these players in our team’s colours, sometimes it’s in everyone’s best interest to let them go.
See you in the next one.