Football giants

Chapter 768 This pool of water is very deep!
Accompanied by the enthusiastic Chairman Luis Felipe Vieira and Rui Costa, Yang Huan visited Benfica's Stadium of Light, supermarkets and other sports venues around the stadium.

Through the introduction of the two, Yang Huan learned to some extent that Benfica has also obtained a considerable amount of income through the lease of these venues, which keeps Benfica's annual income at around [-] million euros.

This was achieved without counting player transfer transactions. In the Portuguese Super League, it ranked first, even surpassing the Portuguese Super League's Banba Porto.

Under the introduction of Chairman Vieira, Yang Huan also found out that Benfica has more than 10,000 members, ranking first in Europe, and the annual membership fee alone is also a considerable amount of income.

This is somewhat surprising.

Due to the limited influence of the entire Portuguese league, Benfica should have very little income from sponsors and other aspects, but it is indeed not easy to achieve such a level of income.

However, this may also have a lot to do with Benfica being a listed company.

Not only Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon are also listed companies, and even the latter two are relatively early. Porto was listed as early as the 90s, while Benfica was listed in recent years because of heavy debts.

However, just like the sluggish stock performance of most football clubs after their listing, Benfica's current market value is less than half of what it was at the time of listing, and the single share price even fell to less than one euro, which is a junk stock.

But they did the math. Look at Porto, the single share price is only [-] euros. Even at the end of [-], the share price of this Portuguese Super League team even plummeted to [-] euros, which is unbelievable.

What's even more frightening is that no matter whether it is Benfica, Porto or Sporting Lisbon, no one buys their stocks at all, and there is almost no liquidity, which shows that investors are not optimistic about them at all.

No wonder, because the football club listing itself is a very deformed product.

From Premier League teams such as Manchester United, to Ajax, to Dortmund, to teams like Porto and Benfica, almost all went public because of heavy debts. As a result, when they went public, they took money and the stock price plummeted immediately.

Even a professional team like Manchester United is inevitable.

Not long ago, a Wall Street hedge fund shorted Manchester United's stock for US$500 million. As a result, the Red Devils' share price fell by [-]%.

Just imagine, if Manchester United is like this, then other clubs will be even more unbearable.

Accompanied by Chairman Vieira and Rui Costa, Yang Huan returned to one of the meeting rooms in Benfica's office after visiting the Stadium of Light.

"Mr. Yang Huan, we admire the brilliant achievements you Southampton have made in the past few years, especially in the globalization strategy. Many of the Saints' initiatives are worth learning from."

Luis Felipe Vieira said very sincerely.

"I have communicated with Mr. Peter Kenyon before. You have set up branch offices in the United States, China and the Middle East, and have achieved quite successful experience, so we hope to have the opportunity to cooperate more."

"In addition, we are also very interested and hope to participate in the International Champions Cup held by Miracle Media at the right time. I believe Mr. Yang Huan also knows that our Benfica is the second European team to win the Champions League. We have a long history and tradition, and our results have been very stable in the past few years."

Yang Huan listened and couldn't help nodding, "Chairman Vieira, the outside world is calling for further expansion of the International Champions Cup. We have been seriously studying this plan. If we decide to expand the army, we must give priority to Benfica!"

"As for the cooperation between Southampton and Benfica, we also welcome it very much!"

Vieira also knows that this kind of matter cannot be settled in a few words, but he doesn't mind either.

Just kidding, among the current European teams, who doesn't want to participate in Miracle Media's International Champions Cup?

Look at those participating teams, each summer can at least earn more than 2000 million euros in net income. If they can sign sponsorship contracts in North America and Asia, the income will be even greater.

Just like Benfica, the annual income is only 2000 million after deducting the player transfer income, playing a few games in a summer, the net income is [-] million euros, the temptation for them is too great.

But on the one hand, Miracle Media has very high requirements for participating teams, almost all of which require top-tier teams in Europe.

Although there are also controversial teams like Monaco participating, but considering the influence of Ligue [-] and Monaco's performance this season, everyone is relieved and thinks Miracle Media is very insightful.

However, after the expansion of the International Champions Cup, there are only [-] places in total, which is difficult to meet the needs of many European giants. Therefore, many mid-upstream teams in the four major leagues, as well as upstream teams in other leagues, are calling for further expansion.

Many people have even drawn up a plan, which is to hold a qualifying match before the main match.

Teams with outstanding performance in the qualifying rounds will advance to the main match and participate in the championship competition with powerful teams.

This set of plans has also received a lot of attention. After all, it will allow more teams to participate in the event, and it will also make the event more intense.

As for the competition schedule, it will be advanced from the current end of July to early August to mid-July, or even early July.

Although it may affect the team's preparations, in order to generate income, European teams are also working hard!
Yang Huan, Sun Yue and others are cautious about the International Champions Cup. After all, they have just expanded their army, and the steps are too big, which is easy to cause trouble. However, the market's reaction is so hot, they must also give attention and positive feedback.

Otherwise, there is no guarantee that no one will set up another mountain!

Of course, the International Champions Cup is now well-known. In addition, the rich teams have been wiped out. It is very difficult for others to reorganize a competition. Coupled with the high appearance fee, the threshold is very high.

If even the RS company cannot continue to operate, it may be difficult for others to gain a foothold.

Vieira is not a fool, of course he knows that it is impossible to get any promises in exchange for a word of his own, or Benfica lending a training base to Southampton, that is absolutely impossible.

But he is still getting closer to Yang Huan intentionally or unintentionally.

When talking about the operation of the club, he vaguely, intentionally or unintentionally mentioned the issue of third-party ownership of the Portuguese Super League.

And Yang Huan also wanted to return him a favor, so he told him the bottom line.

"I can guarantee that FIFA will soon work with UEFA to rectify third-party ownership. Therefore, the transformation of the Portuguese Super League team is imminent!"

"Really?" Vieira frowned.

To him, this piece of news was simply an earthquake.

Of course, it is not too surprising. After all, in the past few years, UEFA and FIFA have heard news that they will suppress third-party ownership, but it has always been thunder and rain. Could it be true this time?
"Absolutely, I promise!" Yang Huan was very sure, "And it is very likely that it will be officially implemented from next year!"

Vieira and Rui Costa looked at each other, obviously panicked.

There are still several players in the Benfica team held by third-party organizations. If they cannot be sold quickly before the ban takes effect, they will be punished by UEFA and FIFA even if they violate the rules.

Not afraid?
Do not make jokes!
Just one sentence, banning Benfica from participating in the UEFA Champions League, is enough to bring Benfica's finances to the brink of collapse!
Looking at Vieira's expression, Yang Huan knew what was going on.

The chaos of the Portuguese Super League team is difficult for outsiders to understand.

Among other things, even if they are both in the Portuguese Super League, a team like Porto can directly influence or even intervene in the transfer and head coach appointment of other Portuguese Super League teams, which is unimaginable in other leagues.

Are you kidding?
Looking at Mourinho's resume, didn't he just go to Porto after being laid off and couldn't find a job, and finally ran to Porto to see Porto's chairman Da Costa, and finally Da Costa arranged for Mourinho to go to Leiria as the head coach, and then took over Porto?
However, Mourinho is indeed tough enough and strong enough. After his eye-catching performance in Porto, he immediately fled the Portuguese Super League and ran to Chelsea.

All in all, this pool of water is very deep!
"Master Huan, thank you for telling me such an important piece of news!"

After thinking for a while, Vieira let out a heavy breath. He felt that the cold winter of Portuguese football is coming.

If the third-party ownership is really restricted, how can the Portuguese Super League teams have the financial resources to introduce high-level stars?

Yang Huan felt a little strange when he saw his stern expression, as if Mount Tai was about to fall.

"Louis, I have always had a doubt, I wonder if you can help me answer it?"

After hearing this, Vieira nodded immediately and said, "Master Huan told me such important news, so I have nothing to say."

Yang Huan nodded in satisfaction and asked, "I'm very surprised. Logically speaking, you sell players every year and sell them for a lot of money. Why do you still rely on a third party so much? Haven't you ever thought about getting rid of a third party and doing it yourself?"

After hearing Yang Huan's question, Vieira and Rui Costa looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly.

"Master Huan, you don't understand our situation." Rui Costa sighed rather sadly.

"Then tell me!" Yang Huan asked with interest.

Because he is really interested and wants to know why there is such a wonderful league model in the Portuguese Super League?

Rui Costa immediately looked at Vieira, his eyes seemed to be asking, can you say, chairman?
Vieira was also weighing in his heart, maybe he felt that Master Huan was a trustworthy person, or he sincerely wanted to get closer to Master Huan, so he nodded to express that he could speak.

After getting the authorization, Rui Costa thought about it and organized his speech.

"Master Huan, what you said about the high transfer fee is that you only heard reports from the outside media and the official statement of the opposing club, but if you look at our company's financial statements, you will find the problem."

As a listed company, Benfica will disclose its financial statements every once in a while.

However, fans usually don't pay attention to these.

The most important thing for fans is the team. They don't care how much you earn and how much you spend.

"You mean, the player transfer fee should be shared with a third party?"

Yang Huan thinks this is not surprising, okay?
In this model, the player is like a commodity, and a third party holds a certain share. If you sell this commodity, you will naturally have to share it with others. Isn't this very reasonable?
But Rui Costa shook his head and smiled, "It's not that simple, Master Huan, the specific operation is much more complicated than this."

This time, Yang Huan really didn't understand.

However, he is very interested in understanding it!
(End of this chapter)