Due to an increased public interest, and after the news of judicial inquiries over the transfer of Ante Vukušić from HNK Hajduk to Pescara in 2012, the chairman of the Hajduk's board Marin Brbić issued a statement.
CONTEXT
After being appointed as the chairman of the board in HNK Hajduk, I faced enormous financial problems. Even competing in the first league was in danger because of unpaid debts, or unpaid salaries to employees (5 months) and players (3 months). According to the football association rules, any player not paid for three months has a right to file for the arbitration and is free to leave. Also, we had a dispute with the then mayor Željko Kerum.
In a situation like that, the only way out was to sell one of the first team players. Otherwise, HNK Hajduk would have filed for a bankruptcy.
FACTS
After the match Inter - Hajduk (0-2) in Milan on August 9, 2012, we were contacted about selling our player Ante Vukušić.
According to a contract with Hajduk, Ante Vukušić had a right on 30 percent of the transfer's value; therefore Hajduk was entitled to receive 70 percent by the same contract. Ante Vukušić signed that contract on September 1, 2010 during the mandate of the Board lead by the chairman Joško Svaguša.
During June 2012, this player started a procedure for the arbitration in front of the Croatian Football Association bodies, aiming to end a contract because of the debts Hajduk had to him. Thanks to an effort by the two Supervisory Board members, in the last moment Hajduk borrowed money to pay all the debts to Ante Vukušić. That way, Hajduk saved its rights to a future transfer payment.
Ante Vukušić' manager was Siniša Šošo whom I met upon arrival to Hajduk, since he also managed Dinko Trebotić and Lovre Kalinić.
From the very beginning, Siniša Šošo worked actively in finding a new club for Ante Vukušić.
Generally, Siniša Šošo communicated with the club only by phone, and not by mail. If the one check my correspondence of that time it can be easily confirmed, although we had a lot of open issues with Šošo, mostly regarding the number of players he was managing.
CHRONOLOGY
On August 10, 2012 we received the first query made by the German manager, without mentioning any club, and unsigned. We replied on that, but there were no further contacts.
On August 14, 2012 I received a written question by Rade Lasić, former member of the HNK Hajduk Supervisory Board about whether club would be satisfied with four million euros, and if we would, he will provide us with a confirmed offer in two or three days. I replied positively.
On August 17, 2012 we received a mail from some Olivier Chevrinais who was seeking a mandate to represent Hajduk in negotiations with five clubs in Italy, when Pescara was mentioned for the first time.
In about the same time, Siniša Šošo reported by phone to me that manager Marko Naletilić is working on a transfer to Italy, and that we can expect an offer in the next few days. I must emphasize here that at that time I didn't know Mr Naletilić, and we met for the first time a few months later. However, I knew who he was, and his reputation gave me a lot of hope. On those days I spoke with Mr Naletilić by phone for the first time (I believe he called me), when he asked a mandate to represent Hajduk. He made the same request in a written way on August 20, 2012.
Considering it was a very big job, all those days I intensively contacted most of the Supervisory Board members, and we agreed to accept an offer which would reach 2.5 million euros nett for Hajduk. Hereby I remind on a clause which gave Hajduk a 70 percent of the transfer.
On August 18, 2012 we were contacted by Rade Lasić again, when he mentioned Pescara offer of two million euros gross, which means Hajduk would have received 1.4 million euros, plus some bonuses. He also announced potential offers from England and Russia on the very next day.
On August 19, 2012 we received the first serious offer from Pescara club, along with the accreditation for Mr Daniele Boaglio as the Pescara's representative for transfer of Ante Vukušić, signed by the club's sports manager Danielle Delli Carri.
This offer came via Nenad Đorđević, who was referring to our previous correspondence with Rade Lasić, and asked for the representing accreditation. They asked this accreditation because that way they would be entitled for the commission.
The offer included two million euros immediately, and another million within a year. Considering Hajduk was about to get 70 percent, with another at least 10 percent of commission to Mr Lasić and Mr Đorđević, we thought that offer of under two millions, and with delayed payment, was unsatisfactory.
On August 21, 2012 we declined the offer, and invited Pescara's representatives to continue negotiations. Also, we pointed out we don't want to authorise anyone out of the club in those negotiations.
On that same day we received another offer from Pescara, via Marko Naletilić. To clear all doubts who was working for who, I want to emphasize here that the first offer from Pescara was made directly to Hajduk by their representative Daniele Boaglio. The latter offer was made from the Pescara's sports manager to Mr Marko Naletilić, and not to Hajduk, clearly showing they considered him the Hajduk's representative. Otherwise, Marko Naletilić would send an offer to Hajduk on behalf of Pescara, as done by Daniele Boaglio.
This offer was somewhat better for Hajduk than the first one, because it included a clause of the additional 800,000 euros if Pescara achieve 12th place or better in Serie A, and remain in the league next yeas. None of those goals were achieved later. It was clear that Pescara didn't want to pay more than three million euros at that moment.
On August 21, 2012 we received two more representation requests. The first one came via agent Marko Barić, on behalf of the well-known Italian manager Eupremio Carruezzo. He even has warned that job will not be finished unless they were made Hajduk representatives. Hajduk's lawyer Damir Primorac, also received an accreditation request made by certain Danielle Tavano. All this clearly shows that large number of managers tried to be included in this job.
After all this, I informed Siniša Šošo that Pescara offer delivered by Marko Naletilić was unacceptable for Hajduk. We clearly said that Hajduk seeks 2.5 million euros net for the club. Only if that was achievable we were willing for Marko Naletilić to continue negotiations.
After a day of silence, on August 23, 2012 Siniša Šošo reports that Pescara will increase its offer. It was e-mailed by Marko Naletilić. New offer included 3.7 million euros gross, paid in three payments, of which the first one was on amount of 2.3 million euros. Since there were no other clubs interested, and this offer met criteria we made with the Supervisory Board, we accepted it.
We clearly pointed out to Siniša Šošo that Hajduk can't authorise the commission which was usual in similar jobs (between 10 and 15 percent), because club wouldn't make a targeted nett income. We agreed to accept the amount which would leave to Hajduk a clear 2.5 million euros. In case we paid 10 percent of the commission, and with 70 percent of the transfer aimed to Hajduk, club would make 2.33 million euros. Thus, we agreed that Siniša Šošo's company will receive a 15 percent of the commission, but that they will waive of the usual payment by Ante Vukušić. Under initial conditions, with 70 percent of the transfer going to Hajduk, club was about to receive 2.59 million euros.
Considering Hajduk received requested 2.506 million euros, club paid an agency commission of only 2.27 percent of the total transfer. Since usual commission is between 10 and 15 percent, this is another confirmation of the quality of this job.
Final negotiations on Ante Vukušić' transfer to Pescara were held in my office at Poljud, attended by the agent's representative, Supervisory Board representative, and lawyers of both sides.
After written consent by the Supervisory Board, the deal was made. This consent clearly points out that Hajduk must receive 2.5 million euros, which eventually it did receive.
Same day when we concluded this deal, we received another confirmation that we did a good job. FC Basel sent its offer for Ante Vukušić of 2 million euros gross, with potential bonuses.
After conclusion of the deal and after Pescara made its payments, according to the Agreement of the representation made between Hajduk and Sport International Company ltd part of the income which didn't belong to Hajduk was paid to International Sport Company ltd, based on Malta.
The fact is it was one of the best transfers in the history of club, with total Hajduk's income of 2.5 million euros.
CONCLUSION
Transfer of Ante Vukušić from Hajduk to Pescaru was made completely according to a law, and with respect of the contract Hajduk had with this player. Further, all legal procedures were respected, and deal was conducted with the written consent of the HNK Hajduk Supervisory Board.
HNK Hajduk conducted this job because it was the best offer the club received, with the second best made by FC Basel of two million euros.
Hajduk earned 2.5 million euros from the transfer of Ante Vukušić to Pescara, which was the crucial financial gain to save club from bankruptcy.
Amount Hajduk made is a result of the club's management determination in these negotiations, but also of mediators' capabilities, who increased the transfer value to the maximum of the market value.
Marin Brbić, Chairman of the Board in HNK Hajduk
