the problem for us is thatt we were losing a lot of money even before covid, and the loan+option/obligation strucutre meant, like Milana now, we were spending next year's money to build this year's team.
We've had a alot of mercato activity in the last decade. Most of it wasted. For the revenues this club brings in, bringing players like Kondogbia, Joao Mario, Nainggolan, Vecino, Ansaldi, Jovetic, Murillo, Candreva, Gabigoal, Gagliardini, Murillo, Santon, Melo, Dodo...
We could go on and on. We;'ve wasted a ALOT of money.
re the transfer success rate, yes, I agree, I'm just stating the facts. We cana get heallthier, it just means our bigger transfers need to be guaranteed to work out. Look at what we did the las tcouple of seasons - aside from Sensi andd Lazaro, they've al been much more successful. I'd rather drop 50-60m on a sure thing than 30-40m on a risky one.
This is why Marotta is key for us imho.
First of all, let me just say I'm not attacking you. From your responses it doesn't seem like you've taken that that way, but I just wanted to be sure.
Now to the issue. I know all the ups and downs, the money wasted etc. If it would have been "no ffp" agenda since 2010, then I would understand. If it would have been "ffp" agenda since 2010 and then say we're down by 70mln from tickets and we need that 70mln or something close to that, even double that to prepare for next season, I would understand. If it would be, we need 150mln to cover for past and coming season and then 100mln for transfers and we need 250mln loan, I would understand. What I don't understand is ffp down our throat since forever, revenues going up year after year (except for last year due to tickets, but again it's -70mln), expenses going down (we don't have multiple players around 10mln a year mark like we had many years ago), we miss 70mln from tickets, and for some "reason" we need 250mln loan AND sell 1 if not more our major players. THAT'S what I don't understand and I don't think anybody on this forum, without being an inside person who actually knows our finances, can explain. I have no idea how did it happen, when "ffp mantra year after year" and our lower mercato expactations should PREVENT US FROM SUCH DIRE MEASURES.
As to delayed payments for transfers, yes I know about it. But it's not like we spend 300mln every year divided for next 5 years. If that was the case year after year, I would understand that. But we spend next years money, this year, which means this year should be no different as we just spend next years money. No problem with covid here as we DID NOT BUY ANYBODY YET for "next years money".
What's more likely to me is to sell one player to finance our mercato. But that's different topic, and that's something you only do if you get an offer you cannot refuse. Like 220mln for Neymar's clause, or 50mln plus Eto'o for Ibrahimovic and you buy Motta and Milito with that money. I can accept a sale like that for insane conditions (like getting 3 first time players with 1 possibly a flop for other 1st time player), but if we sell say Hakimi for 70mln, who do we get? De Paul for 40mln and then what?
Going with what others said, the problem with Suning is exactly the state they are in now. For all we know, those restrictions might continue on for next 20 years. We could get buy for a year or two. We cannot get by for next 10 years, not for a club like ours. If Suning can't put cash in to our club when there is a need for it due to some extreme circumstances (like covid times) then we might very well be owned by a bum on a street.
I'm grateful for the improvements they did over few years, by getting us Marotta (this guy is golden and I'm worried about times when he's gone) and Conte, but as things stand NOW (?), a year or two more of that and I'm sooooooooo for changing the owner or it's downhill slope, and quick! It would be good to be self sustainable, but the fact is, other clubs where there are no restrictions can manage through the covid (roughly), and we cannot due to our owners being limited.
Btw, the ticket prices in premier league are insane. No way that it affected italian clubs more. But EPL has shit ton of money from TV rights which helped, but that's beside the point.