Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has accused the Premier League of forcing clubs selling promising academy players such as Conor Gallagher to comply with profit and sustainability rules.
Chelsea recently accepted a £34 million ($43.4 million) bid for Gallagher, who has yet to sign a new contract with the club.
Since May 2022, under Todd Boehly, the Blues have seen a number of homegrown talents leave, including Mason Mount, Ian Maatsen, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi. This trend has upset many fans, who feel the club is losing its identity.
Maresca explained that these sales are not an option but a necessity due to the Premier League’s financial rules.
Maresca said: “This is not a Chelsea problem. It is a problem of rules. Clubs are forced to sell players because of the rules. It is not a Chelsea problem, it is a problem of the Premier League.”
The business of selling academy players
The sale of academy players is financially advantageous for clubs as it is recorded as net profit, helping to comply with profit and sustainability rules. Maresca lamented the impact of these rules on maintaining club loyalty and nurturing talent in the long term.
He expressed his admiration for one-club men like Francesco Totti: “I love that guy [Francesco] Totti was at Roma for 20 years and he was a one-club man. Those are the rules. My personal opinion is that it’s a shame because we all like to see a one-club man.
“If we want to promote academy players, yes, let’s change the rule,” he added.
Gallagher will join Atletico Madrid pending medicals and final negotiations. He had previously rejected a higher offer from Aston Villa and preferred to stay at Stamford Bridge.
On Gallagher’s future, Maresca said: “What I know is that Conor and the club are talking about a decision… hopefully the final decision will be something good for Conor and the club.”
?⚪️? Conor Gallagher’s flight to Madrid is already booked for today, he is scheduled to travel as soon as he gets the green light.
The plan revealed on Monday is now close to being confirmed.
Gallagher is set to join Atléti on a five-year contract worth €40m, pending the arrival of Omorodion and Julián Álvarez. image.twitter.com/QldOyx9R1W
—Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 6, 2024
Chelsea looking for possible replacements for Gallagher
Chelsea are already looking for a replacement for Gallagher, with Celtic’s Matt O’Riley a key target.
O’Riley has attracted interest from a number of clubs, including Atalanta and Brighton, and was the subject of a bid from Atletico in January.
As Chelsea continue to grapple with the financial pressures of the Premier League, Maresca’s comments highlight the difficulty of balancing compliance with regulations while maintaining the club’s tradition of developing home-grown talent.
