Martin Braithwaite Eyes Espanyol Ownership

A couple of weeks ago, Martin Braithwaite joined Brazilian club Gremio as a free agent, following his departure from Espanyol. Despite scoring 22 goals last season and helping Los Pericos secure promotion back to La Liga, Braithwaite chose to leave the club. His departure stemmed from his dissatisfaction with the treatment he received from Espanyol’s management. This discontent has led him to consider purchasing the club, as reported by Marca, Forbes and so on.

Known for his entrepreneurial ventures, Braithwaite is one of the wealthiest footballers in the world. He owns a real estate company in the US, a restaurant in Gava, and a clothing line. These businesses have provided him with substantial funds, potentially enabling him to buy Espanyol. Currently, Espanyol is owned by the Chinese toy car maker Rastar Group, led by billionaire chairman Chen Yansheng. However, Braithwaite’s ambitions could change this ownership dynamic soon.

The striker’s exit from Espanyol was triggered by a deteriorating relationship with the club’s management, despite his significant contributions to their promotion. This friction led to his departure and subsequent free transfer to Gremio. Braithwaite’s career has seen many ups and downs. After an unremarkable stint at Middlesbrough, he joined Leganes in Spain, where his performance caught Barcelona’s eye. Despite being a costly signing, his time at Barcelona was unproductive, leading to his transfer to Espanyol.

At Espanyol, Martin Braithwaite experienced a rollercoaster journey. He played a key role in their promotion but left the club following conflicts with the management. Now, he aims to exact revenge by potentially purchasing the club. It remains uncertain whether Espanyol’s current owners are willing to sell. However, if Martin Braithwaite’s plans come to fruition, it would be a remarkable turn of events in football. For now, Braithwaite continues his career at Gremio after failing to attract interest from European clubs this summer.