The story of American investors’ investment in Hajduk remains at the center of attention for the sports public in Split and Dalmatia.
American investors are reportedly ready to immediately invest 80 million kuna into the club from Poljud, followed by 50 million in the coming years. The total value of the investment would exceed 230 million kuna, not counting sponsorships, ticket revenues, and marketing rights.
However, it is still unclear how they plan to make money. Even after numerous meetings, having spoken with everyone from club president Marin Brbić to various politicians and the Hajduk fan association, their calculations are unknown to anyone. The takeover offer has not been officially announced, although the City of Split received it yesterday.
It is almost certain that the investors want 51 percent of Hajduk’s shares, part of which they would buy from the City, which currently holds 56 percent of the shares, and the remainder up to 51 percent from other shareholders.
Considering that the Americans certainly do not want to buy Hajduk out of goodwill, but intend to profit from their investment, the question is how they will succeed in what has eluded domestic club management for years?
Without delving into the (yet unconfirmed) seriousness of the entire story, it seems that profit could be achieved if the factor that is the main brake in all parts of Croatian society – nepotism and corruption – is eliminated. Given how beloved Hajduk is in Dalmatia, it is actually a greater achievement that it fails to operate profitably, or at least at a positive zero.
The Mayor of Split, Ivo Baldasar, has called a press conference on Thursday at nine o’clock, where he is expected to comment on this offer, considering that the City of Split, with a 56 percent stake, is currently the majority owner of Hajduk.
