The former Barcelona and Middlesbrough striker, Martin Braithwaite, signed with Espanyol in the summer of 2022 after his contract with the Blaugrana ended. During his time with Los Periquitos, Braithwaite played a key role in their promotion to La Liga, scoring 22 goals in 33 league matches. Despite this success, the 33-year-old departed the club and is now aiming to purchase it, driven by dissatisfaction with his treatment over the past two years.
Although Braithwaite was never regarded as one of the world’s top footballers, Forbes frequently lists him among the wealthiest players due to his investments in real estate, a restaurant, and a clothing line. His investment of £617,000 in NYCE Companies alongside his brother Philip Michael has reportedly grown to an impressive £180 million. According to Spanish publication Marca, Braithwaite’s next ambition is to become Espanyol’s largest shareholder.
After Espanyol’s La Liga promotion in May, Braithwaite openly criticized the club’s board and their handling of his contract situation in the summer of 2023. He commented, “I don’t know anything, I’ll talk about it in the next few days. A year ago the club offered me a renewal, but it was disrespectful. Let’s see if they want me to stay here because the offer I received a year ago shows that they don’t trust me.”
Braithwaite has since joined Brazilian Serie A side Gremio and plans to acquire a majority stake in Espanyol as a form of retribution for his perceived mistreatment. Though he has yet to debut for Gremio, having taken some time off after following the European season calendar, he is expected to join the Brazilian team for training and make his debut soon.
Denmark
