Corruption charges against Lim & Mendes - Prosecutors used TM market values

For the Transfermarkt team, it is always interesting to see where and for what TM market values are used. The most recent example is the state prosecution in Spain, which used the values to investigate corruption at Valencia CF. 

In August, Antonio Sesé, formerly a consultant at Valencia, went to a city court to appeal against club boss Peter Lim and player agent Jorge Mendes (Gestifute), who guided countless players from Portugal to the Blanquinegros. Both are accused of various charges. Among others, Mendes and Lim are accused of using player transfers for their own personal gains. The state prosecutor, using TM market values, has now rebuffed those charges. 

The appeal included the transfers of André Gomes, Rodrigo, João Cancelo, and Enzo Pérez, they all moved in 2015 from Benfica to Valencia. The charge suggested that they were sold above their market value. Mendes and Lim were accused of keeping parts of the fee and split the agent fee. Aderllan Santos, who joined from SC Braga, and Thierry Correira, he arrived in 2019 from Sporting, were also part of the charge, according to a report by the Spanish paper Las Provincias. 

Pérez, Santos, Correia to Valencia: State prosecutors use TM market values

The Fiscalía Anticorrupción, a special state prosecutor in the fight against corruption and organized crime, used the market values at Transfermarkt to investigate the cases. Enzo Pérez, according to the charge, was worth just €6 million. Valencia, however, paid €25 million to Benfica. The state prosecutor used the TM-market value, which at that point was €23 million. There is no additional evidence that either Mendes or Lim have enriched themselves. 

5 from Benfica in Top-20 Valencia's most expensive transfers To the TM-statistic Aderllan Santos was also worth more than brought forward in the charge. The Brazilian was signed for €9.5 million from Braga. The prosecutors, however, noted that the player was valued at €7.5 million on Transfermarkt at the time. The player was later sold for €5 million to the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli.

When it comes to Correira, the state prosecutor could indeed find some major discrepancies between the fee paid and his TM-market value. Transfermarkt's market value for the 20-year-old, who had just emerged from the academy and had played just a few games for Sporting's first team was just €400,000. Valencia, however, paid €12 million. But there was no comparable assessment for the player through previous transfers. 

Gomes, Rodrigo, Cancelo: "Profitable operation" for Valencia

The prosecutors could also not find any evidence for corruption regarding the fees paid for André Gomes, Rodrigo, and João Cancelo. Gomes arrived for a €20 million fee (the equivalent of his TM-market value) and was sold one year later for €37 million to Barcelona. 

Rodrigo's fee was €30 million, at a time when his market value was just €18 million. But five years later, Valencia managed to sell the striker for €30 million to Leeds United. 

Cancelo, according to the state prosecutors, was the most profitable deal, even if the Portuguese national team player, who was initial signed on loan in 2014, cost €15 million. His market value was initially €2 million but increased to €5 million while on loan at Valencia. The state prosecutors noted that Cancelo was later sold for €40 million to Juventus. 

Lim seen critically in Valencia - Club currently for sale

Lim has been seen critically in Valencia for years. Many supporters blame the native of Singapur for the club's problems. The billionaire bought the club in May 2014, fighting off the risk of insolvency. Lim is currently trying to sell the club.