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10 years of FIFRepost from here
I’m going to explore a little bit on Thohir’s apparent new model for our youth team graduates, which I do approve of.
Erick Thohir has implemented a new youth model at Inter
It is starting to look apparent, through the transfers of Simon Benedetti and Marco Benassi, what his intentions are for youth team graduates. This is what I’m referring to, as his “new model” – it’s nothing completely first team related, for example, but our treatment of youth graduates.
Everyone knows I disapprove of how some of our youth graduates are treated – with people like Aiman Napoli and Andrea Mei, despite clearly not being good enough, being kept on at the club until aged 24 – costing the club money and ruining their chances for a real professional football career. Whilst these players themselves probably would not have benefitted from Thohir’s new model, they would most probably have been cut from the team a bit more ruthlessly at an earlier stage.
A youth program is about focusing your efforts on developing the best handful of players, and not wasting your time on the other ones who aren’t going to make the grade. Unfortunately the approach in recent years at Inter was just to keep them all on where possible and try to best develop them.
Simone Benedetti, part of Erick Thohir's new model
Details will probably be emerging on the Benassi and Benedetti transfers for some time, but if we assume what the media has reported so far to be true, then let’s start with that as a basis.
Marco Benassi, part of Erick Thohir's new model
Benassi moves on loan to Torino with right of redemption for a total of about 2 million euros. Benedetti moves to Cagliari for about 1 million euros. These valuations seem cheap to me – don’t you agree? Of course, this is not through coincidence. We paid 2 million euros for half of Benedetti in 2010 when he originally signed for us, and he’s performed quite well in Serie B in the 3 seasons he’s been on loan there since. Similarly Benassi, I believe we paid 1.6 million euros for half of him in Jan last year when he first burst onto the scene for us. His strengths in Serie A would have only served to increase his valuation.
It isn’t that we are selling these players on the cheap – it is the concession from Inter for retaining right-to-buy clauses in their future. Fair valuation for these players is probably more like 3-4mil, and 6 mil. So we’re selling them at quite substantial discounts – but the point of that discount is to retain the right to re-purchase in future. I’m going to assume, given the size of the discounts, that the right to re-purchase must be for a few seasons at least, rather than just next summer.
If our model is to monetise youth players with a view to their long term development, and have a right of repurchase, then I’m very keen on it. It’s barely different to a co-ownership situation – except we have less influence over the player, and where he plays etc. But fundamentally, we can bring him back (easily).
The question borne out of this, though, is whether our right to re-purchase is at a fixed price or not. If we have the right of refusal – like we did with Balotelli – but including no set price (i.e. we just have to match whatever else anyone is willing to offer) then that is clearly not entirely worth the discount. If, on the other hand, we have set prices (i.e. 2.5m for Benassi next year, 3m the year after, etc) then I’m much more interested, and the discount essentially becomes worthwhile.
Either way, it’s interesting to see this in action, and I look forward to seeing any other players that will be effected by this.
My hope would be that Longo, and maybe Bessa, go out on a similar note too. I would be very upset if we sold Duncan without a similar clause, as well.
I’m going to explore a little bit on Thohir’s apparent new model for our youth team graduates, which I do approve of.
Erick Thohir has implemented a new youth model at Inter
It is starting to look apparent, through the transfers of Simon Benedetti and Marco Benassi, what his intentions are for youth team graduates. This is what I’m referring to, as his “new model” – it’s nothing completely first team related, for example, but our treatment of youth graduates.
Everyone knows I disapprove of how some of our youth graduates are treated – with people like Aiman Napoli and Andrea Mei, despite clearly not being good enough, being kept on at the club until aged 24 – costing the club money and ruining their chances for a real professional football career. Whilst these players themselves probably would not have benefitted from Thohir’s new model, they would most probably have been cut from the team a bit more ruthlessly at an earlier stage.
A youth program is about focusing your efforts on developing the best handful of players, and not wasting your time on the other ones who aren’t going to make the grade. Unfortunately the approach in recent years at Inter was just to keep them all on where possible and try to best develop them.
Simone Benedetti, part of Erick Thohir's new model
Details will probably be emerging on the Benassi and Benedetti transfers for some time, but if we assume what the media has reported so far to be true, then let’s start with that as a basis.
Marco Benassi, part of Erick Thohir's new model
Benassi moves on loan to Torino with right of redemption for a total of about 2 million euros. Benedetti moves to Cagliari for about 1 million euros. These valuations seem cheap to me – don’t you agree? Of course, this is not through coincidence. We paid 2 million euros for half of Benedetti in 2010 when he originally signed for us, and he’s performed quite well in Serie B in the 3 seasons he’s been on loan there since. Similarly Benassi, I believe we paid 1.6 million euros for half of him in Jan last year when he first burst onto the scene for us. His strengths in Serie A would have only served to increase his valuation.
It isn’t that we are selling these players on the cheap – it is the concession from Inter for retaining right-to-buy clauses in their future. Fair valuation for these players is probably more like 3-4mil, and 6 mil. So we’re selling them at quite substantial discounts – but the point of that discount is to retain the right to re-purchase in future. I’m going to assume, given the size of the discounts, that the right to re-purchase must be for a few seasons at least, rather than just next summer.
If our model is to monetise youth players with a view to their long term development, and have a right of repurchase, then I’m very keen on it. It’s barely different to a co-ownership situation – except we have less influence over the player, and where he plays etc. But fundamentally, we can bring him back (easily).
The question borne out of this, though, is whether our right to re-purchase is at a fixed price or not. If we have the right of refusal – like we did with Balotelli – but including no set price (i.e. we just have to match whatever else anyone is willing to offer) then that is clearly not entirely worth the discount. If, on the other hand, we have set prices (i.e. 2.5m for Benassi next year, 3m the year after, etc) then I’m much more interested, and the discount essentially becomes worthwhile.
Either way, it’s interesting to see this in action, and I look forward to seeing any other players that will be effected by this.
My hope would be that Longo, and maybe Bessa, go out on a similar note too. I would be very upset if we sold Duncan without a similar clause, as well.
Last edited:
kay:
