Anderlecht owner Marc Coucke has gone public to explain why the club had to sell Nilson Angulo to Sunderland for €20m. Speaking on the programme De Tafel van Gert, Coucke broke down the financial reality behind the star winger’s sudden January exit.
Marc Coucke Justifies Angulo’s €20m Exit
Voetbal 24 reported his comments, where he made it clear that missing out on European football left a massive hole in the club’s budget. To keep the club’s finances stable, the board sanctioned the sale of top talent.
Angulo cost just €1.9m back in 2022, so the board viewed this huge profit as a necessary move for the club’s future. They stuck to that decision even though fans felt frustrated with the timing.
“If you don’t play European football for a season, you’re in a situation where you have to sell to keep the club healthy,” he explains.
Sunderland’s Calculated Risk
Sunderland didn’t waste any time, securing the 22-year-old Ecuadorian international on deadline day. The Black Cats needed a dangerous attacker once Simon Adingra left for AS Monaco.
Adingra only joined in the summer, but his quick departure left a gap in Regis Le Bris’s system. Angulo fits what they need perfectly. With seven goals and eight assists in 30 games this season, he clearly has the final product to make it in England.
Is this a smart move?
Spending €20m on a player from the Belgian Pro League is always a gamble. Still, Sunderland’s scouts clearly like what the data shows. Angulo is already a regular for La Tri, Ecuador’s national team, which shows he can handle the big stage.
Plus, he creates chances in a very similar way to Adingra. While Anderlecht fans are disappointed to lose a key playmaker mid-season, the Sunderland faithful hope his skill translates quickly to the Premier League.
The price tag looks high. But if Angulo keeps up his Belgian form, it might end up looking like a steal. In the end, the market sets the price. Sunderland paid what was necessary for a young, scoring winger who plays for his country. It’s a move that keeps their ambitions on track. The club have stayed true to their plan of signing young talent. Now, it’s up to Angulo to show what he can do at the Stadium of Light.
