Financial rules force Chelsea to sell academy talents – Maresca
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca believes financial sustainability laws should be amended to deter clubs from cashing in on academy graduates, as Conor Gallagher prepares to join Atletico Madrid.The England international would join Mason Mount, Lewis Hall, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ian Maatsen, and Callum Hudson-Odoi as Chelsea youth system graduates who have been sold in the last two years, with Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah both due to depart before the end of August.
Chelsea needed to recuperate finances after spending more than £1 billion ($1.3 billion) over the last four transfer windows to overhaul the squad under new management led by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital.
The selling of players who came through the academy helps teams comply with financial laws because the entire transfer fee is recorded as a profit in the books.
Profit and sustainability rules, which limit Premier League clubs to losses of £105 million ($134 million) over three years, have been blamed for a quiet summer transfer market thus far.
Everton and Nottingham Forest were punished points last season for violating the rules, and newly promoted Leicester City may face one this season for violations in the 2022/23 season.
"This is not Chelsea's issue; these are the rules. Due to the laws, all clubs are currently required to sell academy players. "It's a problem for all Premier League clubs," said Maresca, who joined Chelsea from Leicester in June.
"It's a shame because in Italy, we have (Francesco) Totti, who has been with Roma for 20 years. We love it in football, and the fans want to see it. However, the rules presently differ from those in the past.
On whether the regulations should be modified, Maresca said, "If they want to protect academy players, then probably yes."
Gallagher was Chelsea's captain for much of the season due to Reece James' injuries.
Despite fan outrage over his impending departure, the 24-year-old Gallagher appears to be on his way to Spain to join Atletico Madrid in a £33 million transfer.
Gallagher had just one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and reportedly turned down a two-year extension.
"In this moment, there is something between the club and the player - an agreement to stay or to leave," says Maresca.
"These things happen in every team, every summer, and the final decision will benefit everyone.
"Hopefully the final decision will be good for Conor and the club."
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