International Football Labor Market: Juventus Fire Sale

Lynne Kiesling

The Italilan football league scandal has brought the relegation of the four culprit teams, including Juventus, the best team in the Italian Serie A. If I understand the stipulations of the contracts, this relegation means that players are not obligated to remain with the relegated teams. It is better for their careers for them to play in the top leagues, so relegation makes these teams much less attractive.

Thus there’s the perception that other European teams will swoop in and buy the services of the top players on these teams. 13 of Italy’s national team players and 5 other World Cup players are on the relegated teams; these 18 players are expected to attract attention from many other teams in England, Spain, and other European countries.

But the new Juventus president is trying to signal to the labor market that they do not expect to have to transfer the rights to these players at fire-sale prices:

Juventus’ new president Giovanni Cobolli Gilli has vowed to try to keep as many of their star names as possible at the club, and insists none will leave at cut-down prices.

“I hope that some of our important players will stay,” he said.

“Obviously lots of them will find it hard to stay with us in Serie B with 30 points deducted, but the clubs that are interested will have to pay full rate.

“Should Real Madrid want our players, they will have to pay. That also applies to other teams who may be interested in our players, because we have the duty to defend the club’s heritage.”

Nice sentiment. But I think what will determine the ultimate trading price is the demand-side bidding activity, not any sentimentality about the club’s heritage.

3 thoughts on “International Football Labor Market: Juventus Fire Sale”

  1. Very informative. One correction though, in the four teams involved there are more than five international players. AC Milan had Dida,Jankulovski,Cafu,Shevchenko (now gone), Kaka. Juventus has Trezeguet,Turham,Viera,Emerson,Ibrahimovic, Nedved. Florence has Ujufaluszi. These are off the top of my head, as you see these 12 all were in Germany, therefore the number is more than the meager five.

  2. Very informative. One correction though, in the four teams involved there are more than five international players. AC Milan had Dida,Jankulovski,Cafu,Shevchenko (now gone), Kaka. Juventus has Trezeguet,Turham,Viera,Emerson,Ibrahimovic, Nedved. Florence has Ujufaluszi. These are off the top of my head, as you see these 12 all were in Germany, therefore the number is more than the meager five.

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