Women’s football investors Mercury/13 ‘ripping up blueprint’ on club ownership

For now, the focus is on FC Como and their first game of the new season against AC Milan.

The team play out of town in Stadio Ferruccio, a ground encircled by a running track that dates back to the 1930s.

From these modest surroundings Mercury/13 hope to build their club into a global brand. They have a message for those who doubt it can be done.

“I would say there’s no higher potential than women’s football today,” says Mario Malave, Mercury/13’s co-chief executive.

“If you give women’s football dedicated management, dedicated capital, and nurture it, it’s going to grow and blossom tremendously and become that sustainable business.

“It’s nonsensical to expect it to be that today, if no-one’s invested in it over the last 100 years.”

One woman who is already convinced of the financial case for women’s football is Michele Kang. The businesswoman owns London City Lionesses, Lyon and Washington Spirit and wants to buy more.

There are similarities between her multi-club model and Mercury/13’s project, but also significant differences.

“We’re big fans of Michele Kang. We hope that more Michele Kangs come along the way, and that we’re able to partner with them,” says Cogevina Reynal.

“There are differences. We have our investors, we are built as a business, we have to generate returns and when you’re in that position, you make decisions in a very different way.”