Many are not happy with this development in Argentina as it leaves a void in the local game market. With the players being considered assets, they can be sold off for various reasons such as paying down club debt.
The reality today is that a player is a major asset, bringing in more revenue than television, ticket sales, merchandising, licensing” Gerardo Molina, an agent for Euroamericas Sports Marketing, told reporters.
“In other words, they are the main source of revenue for clubs in Argentina and Brazil. That explains the haste with which they look at which players they can sell at the end of the season to find a way to somehow pay the debts that most Argentine clubs have.”
Argentina sold close to 1800 players between 2009 and 2010; this is in comparison to Brazils 1440 players.
Many players are “sold” while sill in the youth divisions at 15 or 16 years old. Many young players see a European contract as a way to escape poverty in Argentina.
Ramón Maddoni, head coach of Boca Juniors’ junior teams, who has discovered and nurtured many great players, believes that players are being sold too early. This is detrimental for two reasons. One it robs the players of the ability to excel at home and it opens up a talent void for the local clubs that take s along time to fill.
