Brexit red tape has forced clubs to increase recruitments efforts in South America to unearth the most talented young players.
Fifa regulations prevent players under the age of 18 moving between countries but the UK’s inclusion in the European Union had meant that did not apply to European clubs.
Since leaving the EU, however, Premier League clubs have been unable to buy Europe’s most talented teenagers and new visa rules make them harder to sign in their late teens and early 20s. Players aged 18 to 21 must reach a certain points threshold based on first-team appearances, national team caps and other factors to be granted a Governing Body Endorsement, which results in a visa being issued.
This is, perhaps, indicative of Manchester City’s pursuit of Julián Álvarez, the 21-year-old Argentinian forward who is expected to join them for around £15.5m. Álvarez, who can play as a striker or on the wing, has already played five times for Argentina since last year and has been playing first-team football for River Plate, one of Argentina’s leading clubs, since 2018.
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The new post-Brexit transfer rules came into effect at the start of last year but are already changing recruitment plans, with scouts and agents shifting focus to identify young South Americans with potential to play in the Premier League who were previously unattainable due to the old, stricter visa requirements.
Previously, the leading Premier League clubs instead targeted European rivals to bring teenagers into their academies early to avoid large transfer fees after they developed. But under the new rules, agreed by the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League and ratified by the Home Office, players such as Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin would not have been able to join Arsenal, while Paul Pogba could not have left Le Havre, in France, for Manchester United.
By the time these types of players at European clubs are 18, they have often either not played enough senior football for club and country to earn a visa or already command significant transfer fees.
It is still possible for “star” youth players aged under 18 to be granted special exemption to move to the UK, but a club must be able to produce evidence to an independent panel explaining why they are expected to make a significant impact on English football, and it is not thought a case of this nature has been made. The rules are, however, in their infancy and there has not yet been a Covid-free transfer window since they came into effect.
Nonetheless, club recruitment specialists believe the rule changes have created new potential to find players in South America aged 18 to 21 that are better value for money and have already played enough first-team football to earn a visa. Clubs also know that due to currency exchanges it is cheaper to buy players from South American clubs rather than their European counterparts.
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“The currency exchange means it’s cheaper to buy in South America than Europe. The combination has created the perfect storm. There has been a shift in focus from easy European wins to looking at South America.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3o3ZqmW
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