It’s not exactly a secrete that the footballing world has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with various revenues cut due to the circumstances. And with that, a new market has started to emerge.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
As highlighted by Calciomercato.com, a new market is emerging and we are experiencing a revolution. Clubs are no longer willing to splash the cash as we had seen in recent years, now much more focused on the risk of the operation.
One solution has been to loan players before deciding to sign them, perhaps by including a buy-out clause that is slightly higher than the real value. In Italy and at Milan we have seen this, not just for potential signings but also for emergency cover.
In January, the Rossoneri signed both Fikayo Tomori and Soualiho Meite on the same formula: loan with an option to buy. The latter didn’t impress and returned to Torino, while the former did so well he got signed for €28m.
Gone are the days when Milan spent a significant amount of money on securing Krzysztof Piatek and Lucas Paqueta on a permanent basis. Hakan Calhanoglu is another example, as Inter only gave him a three-year contract, even though he joined on a free.
The same happened with Memphis Depya and Barcelona as a two-year contract was signed. In other words, the new way seems to be short deals and smart formulas, with the market changing day by day.
READ MORE: Pellegatti outlines Milan’s next steps on the mercato – from Dalot to Tonali