Mercury Rising

Irati Vidal was among those to speak with Mercury13 co-founder Mario Malave at the Hotel Marina Badalona as the group added FC Badalona Women to a portfolio already holding majority stakes in Bristol City and Como, bringing multi-club ownership to Spain’s Liga F for the first time. Malave says two very different markets have prepared them for a competitive environment, and points to Fever and Nike as early sponsors. He ranks England clearly the most developed league economically and commercially, Italy some steps behind, and Spain a key reference point growing quickly with an incredible technical tradition. Being first, he says, brings responsibility rather than pressure, and he hopes others follow.