Not to Russia. The rising star of the Slovak football league in troubles

At the camp of MŠK Žilina, the autumn runner-up in the Slovak Fortuna Liga, a serious conflict of interest must be resolved. Striker Róbert Boženík has found himself at the center of a high-stakes power struggle between the club owner and his new manager.

Until now, everything seemed ideal. A homegrown talent and one of the most outstanding prospects from Žilina’s academy in recent years, Róbert Boženík provided valuable service not only to the northern Slovak club but also became the first-choice striker for national team coach Pavel Hapal while still a teenager. As his goal tally rose, so did his market value and footballing reputation.

However, the promising striker now faces the first serious complication of his still-young but meteoric career. The club from under Dubňa has blocked a planned foreign transfer. According to the specialized website Transfermarkt, Boženík’s estimated value is around 650,000 euros. More accurately, the club management preferred a transfer to a different foreign club than the one proposed by Boženík’s new agent.

According to reports, Žilina owner Jozef Antošík had already reached a verbal agreement for the striker’s winter transfer to Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow. “They have a similar philosophy with young players as MŠK Žilina, just at a higher level of quality. They had Rob targeted for the starting lineup, with the intention of selling him on to an even bigger club. They agreed with Žilina having a 20 percent share of the next transfer,” explained Antošík on the club’s website. According to Forbes, with an estimated fortune of 90 million euros, Antošík is the 30th richest Slovak.

The main point of conflict, according to Antošík, is Boženík’s new manager – former national team defender Martin Petráš. He has officially represented Boženík since December 1, reportedly bringing more attractive offers for the player. One of the more appealing options is said to be Italian Serie A side Genoa. Ironically, Petráš is said to represent not only the player but also the Italian club itself.

For the Slovak club, which has previously produced national team players such as Pekarík, Dúbravka, Hancko, and Vavro, the current situation is uncomfortable, and the club has declined to comment further. “Everything was already stated in the owner’s interview. I really have nothing more to add,” said Žilina’s sporting director Karol Belaník to the Economic Daily. However, Belaník did confirm that it’s the player who now finds himself in a difficult position. Boženík’s immediate footballing future remains in Žilina’s hands. “Of course it does, because he has a valid contract with us,” concluded Belaník. The striker’s contract with Žilina expires on June 30, 2022. He is currently on vacation until December 15.

Every coin has two sides, and in the sports business, that’s especially true. Sports analyst and football agent Jozef Tokos sees several friction points between how clubs operate and the interests or ambitions of players. That’s why, in his view, the situation shouldn’t be seen in purely black-and-white terms. “It must always come down to free choice. Things may go perfectly for years, but eventually the club and player can reach a point where their interests diverge. Not only the club, but also the player should have the chance to choose where he wants to direct his career and which league he wants to move to,” Tokos told the Economic Daily in his general assessment of the situation. He declined to comment specifically on Boženík’s case. (...)