Champions League: Salzburg also plays a leading role in transfers
Salzburg has a plus of around 218 million euros (according to Transfermarkt.at), including the summer of 2017/18, with its transfers. Only Benfica (355) and Ajax (242) have higher values. Another four of the 32 clubs fall into the 100 million plus category: Borussia Dortmund (189), Salzburg’s group opponent Lille (164), FC Porto (160) and Sporting Lisbon (143). Noticeable: Season after season, Salzburg is consistently in the plus. This was ensured by Patson Daka, Enock Mwepu, Dominik Szoboszlai, Erling Haaland, Amadou Haidara and Duje Caleta-Car, all of whom brought in at least around 20 million euros.
Freund described the amounts mentioned to the APA as a “benchmark. We have advanced in dimensions that were previously unimaginable in Austria. We have consistently made really good transfers. This is something special with this frequency and constancy. This is also very much due to the fact that we never left our path. Now we are harvesting. “
The fact that one succeeds with a very young group and a no less youthful trainer – Matthias Jaissle is 33 – is not a matter of course for the “mastermind” friend, who has held the office since 2015. “With such a change and with the youngest team we’ve ever had, it’s really special,” said the 44-year-old. Younger than the 1-1 draw at Sevilla FC at the start of this year’s group stage (average age 22.6 years) was only one of Arsenal’s starting eleven (21.6) in the 2009/10 season.
“The current level is extremely high”
But the whole thing is not a sure-fire success, stressed Freund. “From the outside it looks like we have a press that we use to print new players. But there are important and courageous decisions two or three years in advance, ”he said. “We always try to adapt to situations that can arise. But of course there could also be phases where the transition does not work so optimally, the current level is extremely high. “
The big transfer success with surroundings is striking. Red Bull ended its academy engagement in Ghana in 2013 due to a lack of results. But the cooperation with the various academies on site is intensive. “It sure works better now and at an extremely high level. We now have a lot of great players and a high success rate, ”said Freund. “We have invested a lot of time and energy in making these good contacts. It helped that we had our own academy. “
In order for it to succeed in Europe – with few exceptions, non-EU foreigners may only be obliged from the age of 18 – not only intensive preliminary observation is necessary. “We offer them – like the other players – the best possible environment, we try to support them in all areas of life. We have also built up a great integration network in the club, ”explained Freund.
Our own academy does the rest
Of course, this did not diminish the role of the academy’s own academy. “It’s the mix that makes it all. It is extremely important to us that our own boys from the academy, such as currently Nicolas Seiwald from Kuchl, Luka Sucic or Junior Adamu, who have gone through all levels, take on leading roles. The academy is a very important pillar, the cooperation is extremely close and good. “
This is particularly noticeable because the transition from the Liefering cooperation club to the Salzburg A set usually works smoothly for the best of the “farm team” thanks to the consistency of the environment and play system. See Roko Simic (18), Maurits Kjaergaard (18), Bryan Okoh (18) and Mamady Diambou (18), who are already collecting gaming experience this year.
Next transfer proceeds guaranteed
It can be assumed that the current successes or a possible CL round of 16 entry could further increase future transfer revenues. “Sure they will rise the further we go. You just have to look at what transfers Ajax have after the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, ”said Freund. At that time, the Dutch, who have always been considered a springboard for talent, sold Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt to FC Barcelona and Juventus Turin for around 85 million euros each.
Such sums are not expected on the 2022 account. But the departure of young star Karim Adeyemi should once again have fallen into the category of 20 million euros upwards. The 19-year-old German A team player should not have a release clause. From the Salzburg point of view, contractual reservations in this regard are generally “not a big issue, it is not the rule,” as Freund said. “But it cannot always be avoided, as was the case with Erling Haaland.”