MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 03: Gerry Cardinale of AC Milan seems to be on earlier than the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 03, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
Former Milan coach and sporting director Leonardo was vital of the best way American funds run soccer golf equipment as he believes the administration they put in cost is just not ‘high degree’.
A rising variety of funds from the USA are shopping for golf equipment in Europe, with Italy’s Serie A having proved a lovely goal for them in recent times, however Leonardo identified some points associated to how they handle such companies, which are sometimes thought of the ‘cheaper’ investments.
The Brazilian additionally blamed American funds for counting on executives with no expertise in soccer, underlining that operating a membership is one thing ‘very particular’ and never ‘like promoting chocolate’.
Leonardo slams American funds’ administration: ‘Not high degree’
“There are two issues, I feel, I don’t wish to enter any particular factor as a result of I’m not technical about enterprise, however we are able to see that the American funds, not solely the People however quite a lot of them are investing in Europe,” Leonardo stated throughout an occasion organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport, referred to as Competition dello Sport.
“They put money into Europe for 2 issues. As a result of soccer is necessary, however soccer in Europe for them is cheaper than within the USA.
“So, if you happen to take into account your funding the cheaper one in all your group, I feel the type of administration you’ll be able to put in, maybe is just not the highest degree you may have. We are able to see quite a lot of American funds investing in soccer however not placing the top-level administration, and never even soccer administration.
“So, if you happen to don’t know soccer, if you happen to don’t know the context, town you arrive in, the tradition, the custom and even the historical past of a membership, it’s not simple to handle, to work together, to make folks consider in your undertaking.”
Leonardo went on to make a comparability along with his expertise at PSG, the place he labored as a sporting director between 2011 and 2013 and witnessed the membership proprietor’s intention to construct ‘one thing sturdy’.
“The reality is that I labored for Paris Saint-Germain,” he added.
“They began in 2011 and in 13 years they constructed a membership, a model, a sports activities centre, they wish to do a stadium, not simply to take a position and promote the membership, however to create one thing sturdy to stay there.
“In the identical interval of 13 years, Milan for instance had 4 homeowners. It’s very sophisticated to do a undertaking with 4 homeowners in 13 years.
“I don’t wish to be polemic however the president of the fund is just not the proprietor of the membership. The homeowners are the traders.
“So you may have somebody within the center to handle a membership, which he by no means did earlier than. A membership of soccer is just not like promoting chocolate, you may have 25 guys, one coach, the supporters, the press, it’s very particular.”
Milan, Inter and Atalanta are among the many Serie A groups that are at the moment below American possession. An investor from the USA was additionally just lately linked with the acquisition of a minority stake of Monza, whereas Genoa proprietor 777 Companions was declared chapter.
