Anzhi Makhachkala: Transfer Fees Inflated by 150% During Investment EraFormer Anzhi Makhachkala sports director Khasanbi Bidzhiev has provided a stark insight into the financial realities faced by the Dagestan club during its period of major investment. In a recent press conference, Bidzhiev shared memories from his tenure, highlighting how the club's newfound wealth directly impacted transfer negotiations.
According to Bidzhiev, the club's reputation for significant spending led to inflated demands from selling clubs. He stated that where other clubs were asked for a fee of 10 million, Anzhi was routinely demanded 25 million for the same players. This represents a 150% increase in the asking price, a premium directly attributed to the club's financial backing.
This practice of 'price gouging' is a known phenomenon in football when a wealthy club enters the market. Sellers, aware of the buying club's resources, adjust their valuations upward, often far beyond the player's objective market value. Bidzhiev's recollection confirms this was a significant operational challenge for Anzhi's recruitment strategy.
The period of large investment at Anzhi, often associated with the ownership of Suleyman Kerimov, saw the club attract high-profile players and managers with substantial wages and transfer fees. While this brought short-term sporting success and global attention, Bidzhiev's comments underscore the hidden costs and negotiating disadvantages that can accompany such a financial model.