Maldini and Massara pull off another successful operation in Conti’s sale – the details | OneFootball

It seems as though Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara have pulled off yet more great business in the sale of Andrea Conti to Parma.

A statement on the club’s official website earlier today confirmed that Milan and Parma have reached an agreement over the loan of Conti until the end of the season. Parma will have an obligation to make the deal permanent under certain conditions.

Conti arrived from Atalanta in the summer of 2017 when Milan spent big under the Chinese ownership, but his career with the Rossoneri never really got going as he was hampered by two serious knee injuries.

The 26-year-old leaves the club having made 51 appearances across all competitions, amassing five assists in the process. Some of you may like a bet, and if you do click here, and would have probably gambled on him having a better return than that.

As reported by the reliable Calcio e Finanza (via MilanLive), Milan will make a capital gain on Conti that will not be insignificant if and when he does permanently leave the club in the summer.

The full-back cost the Rossoneri an outlay of €24million when he arrived from Bergamo three-and-a-half years ago. His residual value after amortisation in the Milan financial statements has fallen to €9.68million, while in six months it will decrease further to €4.84m.

This means that Milan – if they were to actually collect the €7m agreed by Parma as per the clause – would generate a capital gain of €2.16m from Conti’s sale.

Not only that, but it must also be factored in that the Rossoneri would save €1.85million on the gross salary of Conti, who receives €2m net (€3.7m gross) per season.

It is yet another good bit of business by the Maldini and Massara duo who continue to deploy a philosophy of conducting transfer negotiations based on the impact on the balance sheet, which should help in getting back in the good graces of UEFA.

The current season’s squad costs are well down as per a report late last year, with €17.03m in capital gains generated and the savings on the salaries of players who were high-earners like Biglia and Bonaventura as well as Suso, Piatek, Reina and Rodriguez mid-season.

To this must be added that Leo Duarte has also departed in the current window, showing that the directors are keen on streamlining the squad by shipping out players no longer deemed useful and replacing them with players on cost-advantageous deals such as Soualiho Meite (loan with option), Mario Mandzukic (free agent, short-term deal) and most likely Fikayo Tomori too (loan with option).