The truth behind the transfer of Wataru Endo, behind the too-hard negotiations… A talented agent reveals, “That’s why I can’t quit my agent.
He said, “A top European club paid 3 billion yen for him, who is over 30 years old. I felt firsthand that the value of Japanese players had risen to this level.
Takashi Endo, 51, is the president of Universal Sports Japan Corporation, which manages soccer players. He refers, of course, to Wataru Endo (30), captain of the Japanese national soccer team.
On August 18, Endo’s transfer to Liverpool, a prestigious club in the English Premier League, came as a shock to all of Japan. Endo was at the very forefront of the negotiations, and worked hard to organize them. (All statements in parentheses below are Endo’s.)
Endo said, “I had originally told Wataru that the only club I would challenge next would be one of the top clubs in the world. Our former club, Stuttgart in the German First Division, was one of the top clubs in Europe in terms of attendance, so there was no need for us to rush out. So we waited anyway. I told Wataru that if we were going to make a move, it would be in late August, after the transfer market closed.
Endo’s connections are extensive. Using his network of information, he was informed in August that Liverpool had Endo on their “large list” (a list of players likely to be acquired). Then, on August 14, another player who was also on the large list was transferred to another team. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had arrived. However, Endo was not in a hurry.
Of course, I had given Liverpool the information about the sailing,” Endo said. But, as I mentioned earlier, we were in no hurry to make the move. It may sound strange, but there is a clear “pecking order” within the club. It is not clear if a player is a regular player or if he has been selected to represent his country, etc. …… These things will change your position after you join the club.
There were other odds as well. Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s coach, is German. In addition, the sports director was also German. I thought this relationship would work positively.
