Comments on: Desolation in South America as talent drains away

By: Brian Homewood

Brian Homewood — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:41:12 +0000

Yes, South American clubs have been selling their top players for years. The difference is that, until a few years ago, the players at least used to hang around for a while before moving to Europe. Robinho, for example, spent three years with Santos before his move to Real Madrid but nowadays European clubs are pouncing for 12 or 13 year-olds. The trick is to get a job for the boy’s father, so that the boy goes as a “consequence” of the move. In this case, the club gets nothing at all.

By: Dave Martinez

Dave Martinez — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:26:16 +0000

Its not so much that they have just STARTED this trend, its what South America has done for years. Stars like Guillermo Schelotto who were lifers in S. America are a needle in a haystack.

The leagues in South and Central America are in it to make money, and secondly, to win it. They are what is known as “Developmental Leagues.” I love Boca Juniors, but facts remain - if they have a star (Messi) and someone wants millions for em, well, off to greener pastures you go!

And as a developmental league, their manufacturing of the next “great thing” is heightened since they are constantly scouting (from the ages of 8 and up!) for new talent, and are always willing to put youngins through the talent process to eventually introduce them to the league, and perhaps, to the world.

This is not really news. Its what these leagues do.

By: Daily Dose 08.21.07 - World Football - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:23:33 +0000

[...] South America’s talent drain (Reuters Soccer Blog) [...]

By: Rafa

Rafa — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:22:01 +0000

Well, the production line seems to be never ending at least. You still wonder where all the money goes, though. It seems the agents and players themselves are getting a large cut of the big deals.

By: Gonzalo

Gonzalo — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:24:25 +0000

Club management surely need to take a large part of the responsibility for this ‘talent drain’. They are clearly not investing the money they receive for these players from European clubs in developing new talent.

There has always been and there will always be a pecking order of clubs, and those which can afford the players will continue to buy rather than nurture talent. South American clubs maybe need to take a leaf out of Ajax’s book and follow their example. Year after year they sell their promising youngsters to richer clubs and year after year they seem to produce more.