Oaktree turns the page on zero parameters, brake on commissions

The arrival of Oaktree in Viale della Liberazione marked a change of direction compared to the Zhang era. One of the most evident differences concerns the approach to free transfers, which in recent years had become a trademark of the Marotta–Ausilio management. Players like Calhanoglu, Thuram, and Mkhitaryan arrived precisely through this formula, leaving a mark on the club’s recent history.

The new American ownership, however, has changed the parameters. The statements made by Beppe Marotta at the press conference clarified the fund’s position, leaving no room for interpretation. The central issue concerns the commissions to be paid to agents for free agents: amounts that are far from symbolic and do not find favor with the American leadership, who consider them largely avoidable and a source of annoyance.

For Marotta and Ausilio, the ability to identify the best free transfer deals represented one of their distinctive skills in the market. Marotta himself had perfected this method back in his Juventus days, where he brought important names to Turin: Pirlo, Pogba, Dani Alves, Llorente, Khedira, Rabiot, Coman, Emre Can.

Now the direction indicated by Oaktree is clear: that era seems destined to end. The fund has imposed a new market philosophy, putting a stop to a practice that had become established in recent years.