Even football is in a recession. The economic earthquake of the Coronavirus will not spare any sector, including football. Indeed, it is clear that, at a time like this in which all companies are trembling, even football (the third largest in Italy, behind only the government and the financial sector) cannot be an exception. The economic principle according to which, if there's less money around, prices go down too, will hit the ball in a very important way, forcing him to revise his turnover downwards.
In this sense Juventus initiatives (salary freeze for 4 months, with associated savings of 90 million) e Barcelona (70% cut on the next 3 months), just to mention the most famous, they can help the system but they are not enough to resolve the crisis. The main problem lies in the stop of championships and cups, which is provoking enormous economic damage from all points of view. TV rights, stadium box office, merchandising, sponsors have disturbing minus signs and next to be added to the list will be the football players.
Yes, they, the most important assets of any company, will end up unthinkable devaluation just until a few weeks ago. Second a study by Cies, prestigious football observatory of the Swiss University of Neuchatel, this stop will cause a 28% drop in market prices, therefore about a third of the total value. A blow to the system, not surprisingly engaged on several fronts to start playing as soon as possible, in an attempt to patch the hole.
But the ship is still taking on water, which is why it is reasonable to expect a very different market than in the past, in which exchanges and capital gains will take center stage with respect to cash. Let's take a few practical examples, always basing ourselves on the evaluations of the Cies. Pogba e Donnarumma, just to name two pieces of 90, will pass respectively from 65 and 50 million to 35 and 30: question of age, wages and duration of the contract, with obvious repercussions also on wages.
Milan, remaining on Gigio, can avoid the problem by renewing the agreement expiring in 2021, but the eventuality, already difficult before, is even more complicated by the collapse of the aforementioned revenues. Even Juve, despite having much higher potential, risks having to abdicate the Paul dream, unless a formula is found that can suit Manchester United.
The feeling, however, is that the priority of the Lady is called Ronaldo, in the sense that her pharaonic salary of 31 million per season (for another two years) risks being too much even for her. The authoritative Spanish newspaper Marca points out how Juve has three paths: renew his contract by spreading his salary, keep him thus, however, dangerously approaching the deadline, or sell him for 70 million, 30 less than what was paid in 2018 for him from Real Madrid.
Even agreements already in place are likely to undergo changes: this is the case with Icardi, which PSG could send back to the sender Inter. In fact, the 70 million agreed a year ago risk being too much at this stage, which is why the Nerazzurri risk seeing a sale they counted on a lot fade away. Not even the youngest prospects are saved like Tonali: in other times Brescia could have asked for at least 50 million, today they will have to settle for a maximum of 30. In short, the ball is deflating and with it all its enormous related activities, made such by a total turnover of 4,5 billion euros, with important effects also on the contribution and social security system. Another problem, yet another, with which post-Coronavirus Italy risks having to deal with.
