"It's a facet, after 20 years in the business and 40 mercatos, that I didn't know." Yvan Le Mée is an agent very well established in the French football community. With his agency, Sport Profile consulting, he manages the careers of players like Ferland Mendy, defender of Real Madrid and the French team, or the Lyonnais Matin Terrier. With the coronavirus and containment, its working methods have changed a little, in particular to manage transfers. "Managers, when we cannot find an agreement for a transfer, there is a moment when you have to see each other, there is a moment when the telephone is no longer enough, where Skype is no longer sufficient", explains- he at Europe 1. "You have to meet physically. It's true that today, we are unable to do so, so we work via Skype, via WhatsApp. But it's quite difficult to tip the scales on the right side. In a face-to-face meeting, it's easier to say things and win.
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Players' agents, an SME like the others at risk
The stopping of the championships (that of Ligue 1 was activated this week), the club economy in the red, the uncertainty around the transfer market ... are all problems for players' agents. "We work on our own, this means that there is a significant financial impact, knowing that we sometimes have employees, scouts (talent scouts, in regions, or abroad, editor's note) secretaries ... so we are somewhat confronted with the problems encountered by all SMEs ", analysis for Europe 1 Bruno Satin, agent since 1988.
He concedes to "never have experienced a situation like this in his career". "Especially since we, with regard to deadlines, business (transfers, editor's note) which have already been carried out, but which are paid in installments, we suspect that we will be the last paid. Among the creditors, unfortunately, we will not be given priority. "
Bruno Satin, like Yvan Le Mée, thanks to their experience and seniority in the profession, are certainly affected by the situation, but their backs are strong enough to last several months and weather the storm. On the other hand, they worry for beginners. "There are around 300 licensed agents. About twenty companies that operate well but the rest are in great difficulty, because there are a lot of financial costs, travel, train, hotel, etc ...", reports Le Mée. "Very few people live well from this activity, contrary to the fantasies around the profession of agent. I think there will be many in difficulty. In any case, it is not summer and the transfer window to get started ... "
The "mess" of the transfer window dates, the "Covid-19 tariff"
It remains to be seen when the summer transfer window will take place. Each country chooses its start and end dates. France seems to want to change nothing by keeping the opening of the transfer market on June 1 and its closure on September 1. But what about the other countries, which may end their championships lagging behind France? "It is very likely that the transfer market remains open a little more than usual, that is to say beyond September 1, it will allow transactions to be made after the usual dates", says Bruno Satin . "We sail by sight", regrets Yvan Le Mée. "There is a real mess, a real panic, we are a bit in negation at the business level, it's complicated."
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On the other hand, the two agents agree on one thing: "The market is going to be very calm, there are going to be a lot of loans, forms of exchange which would involve less money flow. And then perhaps some clubs will try to be more reasonable. "
Another problem raised by Bruno Satin: the stopping of competitions since March. "This is what is most penalizing, because decisions on transfers or recruitments are often made on the impressions of the last three months of competition, in the 'money-time'." The agents finally fear the "Covid tariff". With the health crisis, certain transactions risk being carried out at a cost below the market. This means lower pay for players and lower pay for agents.