The debate about the power of player consultants in professional soccer continues – and this time FC Bayern is at the center of it. Honorary President Uli Hoeneß recently made clear statements about the consultants‘ guild and announced that he wanted to limit their influence more in future. Now the headwind is blowing
In an interview with dpa, experienced player agent Jörg Neblung reacted sharply to the Bayern patron’s statements, describing Hoeneß‘ criticism as „flat“ and even speaking of „hopeless populism“
The background to this is, among other things, the tough contract negotiations with Dayot Upamecano. The central defender had been negotiating intensively with his advisors in recent months about an extension at FC Bayern. This involved not only a top salary, but also a signing fee, which is reported to be around 20 million euros. In addition, the player’s side had insisted that the hand money should not be stretched over the term of the contract, but should be guaranteed
Hoeneß had already expressed his „horror“ at the behaviour of the advisors during the contract poker game, but removed the player himself from the criticism. In BILD, he now announced that they would „no longer put up with advisors alone deciding how things go. Their contribution is increasingly out of proportion to the fee that is called for and often paid in the end“. Hoeneß also made it clear: „We will increasingly say ’no‘ and not go along with this madness.“
Response to Hoeneß: „The consultants are regularly scolded“
Neblung strongly disagrees with this statement. „Bayern always get angry when they don’t get their way. The advisors are regularly scolded. In this case, however, Upamecano feels he gets nothing, although he ultimately makes the decision. That’s the ridiculous thing. We have no power of attorney,“ he explained
From his point of view, the decision-making power always lies with the player in the end. „It’s always the player who decides, and the clubs always try to drive a wedge between the player and the agent,“ Neblung continued. Consultants have their right to exist because they sound out the market and show alternatives: „There is a market for every player and clubs and consultants play in this market. We show the player what alternatives there are.“
The debate is also boiling over elsewhere, with Matthias Sammer recently also sharply criticizing consultants and even calling for their abolition. Roger Wittmann, managing director of the Rogon agency, replied on Sky: „If there were no consultants, the clubs would do what they want with the players.“
