Former RCD Espanyol striker Martin Braithwaite is considering a bid to buy shares and take a controlling stake in the club which he departed as a player only a few weeks ago, according to reports in Spanish newspaper MARCA.
Braithwaite scored 22 goals as Espanyol won promotion back to the top flight of Spanish soccer at the first time of asking, but decided to leave the club to move to Brazilian side Grêmio ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
“This is not goodbye for me. Together we have gone for promotion, we have achieved it and now we are going for the club,” he said in a farewell message to fans, which is now clearer with these reports indicating exactly what he meant with his new objective.
Braithwaite publicly fell out with the club’s owners after they refused to allow him to leave for a first division team last summer, and addressed a possible contract extension this summer by saying, “a year ago the club made me a renewal offer, but it was disrespectful. Let’s see if they want me to stay here because the offer they made a year ago showed that they don’t believe in me”.
Espanyol is owned by Chinese businessman Chen Yansheng and managed by Rastar Group, but fans have been very vocal in their criticism of the management of the club, which has been relegated twice in the last three years.
Braithwaite has invested much of his income from his soccer career, and that has enabled him to develop a property empire with shares in NYCE Companies worth $287 million alongside his uncle, Philip Michael. What started as an investment of $850,000 in 2017 has scaled up rapidly, now owning 1,500 properties with another 500 on the way.
The project aims to provide affordable housing to the black community in Philadelphia and New Jersey. "I always had this American side, and I think maybe that's why my mindset is maybe more American: dreaming big, doing amazing things, writing goals down," he told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "In Denmark, we have an amazing system protecting the people. Everyone is good. No one needs anything. In America, it's not really the same thing."
His wife, Anne-Laure, also has her own business, Trente, a women’s clothing line, and together they own a Barcelona restaurant, Iguana Gavá Mar, and a home-meal delivery service, Braithwaite’s Kitchen.
Braithwaite's Relationship With Espanyol's Owners Has Been Fraught With Tensions
It wouldn’t be the first time that Braithwaite has shocked RCD Espanyol this summer, following the manner in which he left the club. The striker was public in his unhappiness at how he had been treated over a possible contract extension, but reported for training as expected for the first day of preseason. The club even gleefully took to social media to share pictures of him undergoing medical checks. However, only hours later, he left them with egg on their faces as he deposited his release clause with La Liga to bring his contract to an immediate end.
The Dane then held talks with Greek side Olympiakos, coached by Spaniard José Luis Mendilibar, but eventually opted to join Brazilian side Grêmio.
Braithwaite's Reported Takeover Bid
The report from MARCA claims that Braithwaite is interested in buying a controlling stake in the club, after feeling disrespected by the club's current owners. The report also says that Braithwaite wants to get rid of the current owners, who denied him a move away to a first division team last summer.
Braithwaite's net worth is estimated to be around £250 million thanks to his successful real estate business, which has grown rapidly since he co-founded it in 2017. He is said to be very passionate about his business ventures, and it seems that he is willing to put his money where his mouth is by attempting a takeover of his former club.
It remains to be seen if Braithwaite's bid will be successful. However, it is clear that he is not afraid to take on a challenge and that he is willing to use his wealth and influence to make a difference. The situation will be closely watched by football fans around the world, and could have a significant impact on the future of Espanyol.
Braithwaite's Business Empire
Braithwaite's real estate business is not the only business venture he has been involved in. He is also a co-owner of a clothing line called Trente, which was launched by his wife, Anne-Laure. The couple also own a high-end restaurant in Barcelona called Iguana Gavá Mar, and a home-meal delivery service called Braithwaite’s Kitchen.
Braithwaite's business success is a testament to his hard work, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit. He is not afraid to take risks and to think outside the box, and it is this mindset that has helped him to achieve success in both football and business.
Will Braithwaite's Dream Come True?
Espanyol fans have been critical of the club's management in recent years, and many would welcome a change in ownership. Braithwaite's takeover bid could be the start of a new era for the club, and it will be interesting to see how the story unfolds. If successful, Braithwaite could become one of the most influential figures in Spanish football.
It is important to note that these are just reports and that there has been no official confirmation from Braithwaite or Espanyol. However, the reports have caused a stir in the football world, and it is clear that the story is only just beginning.
