The Insider's Lounge

In this episode of The Insider's Lounge, we sit down with Sebastian Avanzini to break down how athletes can start building for life after sports. He shares his professional football journey, the steps he took to monetize his knowledge while still playing, and the balance between formal education and real world experience. Sebastian also reveals his frameworks for turning expertise into real business opportunities, including the founding of Eduvo, an education tech platform that helps high per...

In this episode of The Insider’s Lounge, Edson Braafheid sits down for an unfiltered conversation about his journey from Suriname to the highest levels of world football. He shares the early experiences that shaped him, how he broke into the Eredivisie, and how Louis van Gaal swooped in to sign him for Bayern Munich just as Ajax were closing in. Edson takes us inside the reality of playing for clubs like Bayern Munich, Celtic, Lazio, and Utrecht while navigating constant transitions and the ...

Brazil’s football ecosystem is shifting fast, and for the first time, it’s truly open for investment. In this episode, Andre Da Costa breaks down what’s changing and why it matters. The conversation begins with the cultural and economic forces that shape Brazil’s identity, setting the stage for a comparison with football systems in Europe and North America. That leads into the SAF model - a legal transformation that has redefined how clubs are owned and operated. Andre walks through recent ...

In this episode of The Insider’s Lounge, Charlie Methven shares the unconventional journey that led him from journalism and publishing to becoming one of football’s most talked-about executives. From the newsroom of The Daily Telegraph to the boardrooms of Sunderland AFC and Charlton Athletic, Methven has built a reputation for turning struggling clubs around and bringing fresh energy to fan engagement, commercial growth, and club identity. We start by diving into his background in journalis...

This week, Iker Nacenta joins The Insider's Lounge to break down some of the biggest stories in soccer business, from MLS valuations and FIFA governance to player career transitions and lower-league ownership moves. We start with Sportico’s 2025 list of the 50 most valuable soccer clubs. Leading the list are global giants like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and FC Barcelona, but the sharp rise of MLS clubs raises questions about valuation strategy and long-term positioning. MLS accounts for...