In recent years, there has been a noticeable influx of Asian players into European football leagues. Big clubs like Manchester United have often signed Asian players partly to attract new sponsors. Now, this trend is spreading to smaller clubs as well.
One such example is Teerasil Dangda, a relatively unknown name outside of his home country. However, he is a major star in Thailand. Recently, he signed a contract with the Spanish club Almeria, as reported by mundodeportivo.com.
Almeria’s decision to sign Dangda wasn’t solely based on his footballing talent. Instead, it was seen as an opportunity for the club to expand its business interests in Thailand and bolster its finances, which have been affected by the economic downturn. Interestingly, the contract signing ceremony took place in Thailand rather than at his new club, underscoring the commercial aspect of the deal.
Although Dangda may not make a significant impact on the field, his presence is expected to attract new sponsors to the club, fulfilling the primary objective behind his signing. This highlights the growing importance of commercial considerations in football club operations, even at the lower levels of the sport.
