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Anthony Martial Transfer to Manchester United Funds Amateur Club for 4-5 Years
September 2, 2015
CO Les Ulis, the amateur club that initially developed Manchester United striker Anthony Martial as a youngster, are set to receive a fortune-changing slice of his big-money move to the Red Devils.
According to the Associated Press' Samuel Petrequin, clubs are entitled by FIFA to receive compensation for any player they helped develop between the ages of 12 and 23 when he changes clubs.
The Frenchman joined the club at just six years old and was snapped up by Lyon at 14, so according to Petrequin, Les Ulis are set to receive £270,000 of Martial's £36 million transfer fee for the final three years of training and education they provided him.
The club are an amateur outfit who play in the sixth tier of French football, so even though the compensation is just 0.75 per cent of the fee, it will go a long way.
Per Petrequin, coach Mamadou Niakate said: "It will cover up to four or five years of our budget. We are always struggling to make ends meet. This money will help us secure existing jobs and renew our equipment. At the football school, we've been using the same footballs and training shirts over the past four years."
As the report noted, the club also helped produce former Premier League stars Thierry Henry and Patrice Evra. Niakate added:
Thierry was just an 11-year-old boy when he left, so we did not receive anything because the solidarity contribution does not work if the player leaves the club before his 12th birthday. He later paid for an artificial pitch for the club, though.
With Evra, we received about 38,000 euros ($43,000) in player development fees. But this is not just about the money. Our main satisfaction is that someone from Les Ulis is able to join such a prestigious club as Manchester United.
Petrequin also reported that the club has seen a huge surge in registration requests from children in the wake of Martial's transfer.
Now with the club able to improve their coaching and facilities with their newfound wealth, there's even greater potential they can unearth and nurture France's—and perhaps the Premier League's—next big talent.