Was Lazio right not to sign Mason Greenwood? Probably yes. Because there are players who can be bought and others who are probably too expensive. Greenwood is certainly strong, last year he made the difference with Getafe, but getting to 35 million plus 50% of the resale is really enormous. Because then situations are triggered that lead to not selling the player for certain figures and getting the timing wrong. FIFA has said for years that the ownership of a player is only of one team, which is true, but economically we are not there. The percentage on the future resale at 50% is a real co-ownership and certainly influences what is a choice.
In a hypothetical scenario, Greenwood is taken by Lazio and paid 35 million + 50% of the excess. Even if a proposal of 60 million were to arrive, Lazio would take 47.5 in total, while the amount due to United would be 47.5. In fact, there would never be a real capital gain, taking exactly as much as United. Same concept with 70 (52.5 and 52.5) or 80 (57.5 and 57.5) and so on, for each figure. Round or not. If this is not a co-ownership…
The words of Angelo Fabiani, sporting director of Lazio. “We wanted Greenwood last year, then there was a hitch with the player. You all know what Greenwood’s problem was. An agent this year approached us with the idea of Greenwood in Italy, we gave him a deadline, from there an auction was unleashed and I thought I could go up to a certain limit. We offered 22 million pounds for 50% of the player, we’re talking about 26 million euros. He preferred to take another path and I say that the best deals are those that aren’t made”.