Broadening Belgrano's horizons

With a limited network outside of Argentina and, as a result, little access to information about the requirements of global clubs in the transfer market, Club Atlético Belgrano have traditionally had to sell their players to the biggest domestic clubs.

Frustrated by watching on as rival competitors generate large transfer profits from eventually moving those same players onto Europe, the club, which has produced international players like Argentina's Cristian Romero, Armenia's Lucas Zelarayan and dual Italian and Argentinian national Franco Vazquez, is now ready to open its doors up to the rest of the world.

Speaking on the sidelines of the TransferRoom Summit London, where he officially signed an agreement to join the platform, CA Belgrano President Luis Fabián Artime said in the video below: “The challenge we face is Argentina’s export market to Europe and the domestic market.

"Belgrano, as one of the biggest clubs from inland Argentina, has often had to buy players locally and sell to top clubs in the domestic market, so that they are able to then sell them abroad.

“I believe that the challenge of broadening our horizons from our domestic market is the most important one which clubs from inland Argentina are facing now.”

Having direct access to decision makers at more than 800 clubs of varying sizes means CA Belgrano can move quickly in the transfer market to pitch players to meet the needs of potential buyers.

Artime continued: “Joining this platform gives us the possibility to show our product: Argentinian players fundamentally from Club Atlético Belgrano. It gives us a bigger picture, which you realise when meeting clubs here, that the world of football has no limits.

“Here at the Summit we contacted clubs that had been previously unknown to us. We had meetings with clubs which we were out of our reach and this really gives a huge opportunity to the football business.”

Getting to know the buyer personally

Indeed it those in-person Summits that give the ultimate decision-maker like Artime the opportunity to meet with his counterparts and get to know them in person across the negotiating table.

He said: "Meeting face-to-face with clubs is crucial, not only for us to get to know people better but also for others to know that there is a President at Belgrano and there is another President on the other side to negotiate with. I believe this is fundamental in the trust and communication between clubs."