It's been a while hasn't it. It's been a real busy period leading up to the new season, but we're here and motivated again. Benetton has gone bankrupt, which we only realized last week. Because apparently the debtors took all their office equipment and the pidgeon got lost on it's way. But! Colombini makes a sensational return to save us for the upcoming season, with them Kometa has tagged along to form a magic duo. Our Mexican sponsors have remained on board but a detailed report on all of them should surface sometimes soon, maybe, really have no clue it's never happened.
But without further ado, let's present our pre-transfers squad. I'll have an availability post soon ish, some history because we're onto our 4th year in ManGame already. No clue how to throw in middle mountain stuff so just imagine it's there.
Hola, as promised our availability post. I'll give some more pointers etc, but first lets look at the renewals and the damage it left behind.
Rider
2024
2025
Difference
Availability
Rafael Reis
400,000€
350,000€
-50,000 €
For Sale
Neilson Powless
300,000€
250,000€
-50,000 €
Houcaine El Sabbahi
120,000€
150,000€
+30,000 €
Elias Afewerki
200,000€
150,000€
-50,000 €
For Sale
Jan Xandri
75,000€
75,000€
0€
Juan Ayuso
650,000€
400,000€
-250,000 €
Forever mine <3.
Federico Olei
50,000€
55,000€
+5,000 €
Likely
Felix Sprenger
50,000€
50,000€
0€
Kwanele Jele
60,000€
50,000€
-10,000 €
Andrea Aquilani
50,000€
50,000€
0€
Alain Quispe
80,000€
65,000€
-15,000 €
Maybe
Youssef Bdadou
60,000€
50,000€
-10,000 €
Daniel Bonello
50,000€
50,000€
0€
Oscar Onley
150,000€
100,000€
-50,000 €
Stan Martino
50,000€
50,000€
0€
Luke Borg
50,000€
50,000€
0€
Moses Moiruri
50,000€
50,000€
0€
Maybe
Davide Ruvalcaba Reyes
50,000€
50,000€
0€
Maybe
Llucie De Marigny-Lagesse
50,000€
50,000€
0€
Maybe
Luke Durbridge
205,000€
0€
-205,000 €
Loic Vliegen
75,000€
0€
-75,000 €
Samuel Pokälä
50,000€
0€
-50,000 €
Lukas Talacka
50,000€
0€
-50,000 €
Hjalmar Klyver
€10,000
0€
-10,000 €
So basically, at first glance it seems like we freed up a big portion of wage, but with Ayuso returning after his loan it evens it out pretty much. I was surprised to be able to pull both Reis' and Powless' wage down after last season but I'm certainly not complaining.
Now for our availability I guess, cash is king in most cases. For any rider I didn't specify in the table it's whatever happens really. A convincing bid could pry them from my cold stubborn hands but if our value for them isn't satisfied I won't cry about keeping them. Ofcourse, everything can change with how the market develops. Riders like Powless and El Sabbahi are our most important riders in that category and so will need to command a decently big offer to consider, even if I don't specify them staying. I like having fun transfers and tinkering with a squad so it's on the cards. Ayuso is staying. There's about 5,000,000 possible scenario's at every stage of transfer season and only 1 will warrant me selling him.
My fun little band of regionals and exotics will likely stay but there's always a chance to be convinced to let them depart. I'm aware I've not been as regionally focused as I should be ideally, with only having three Sammarinese riders. It's a process, where you try to find your identity I suppose, and I feel like it's almost complete. We've primarily focused on the Mediterranean area in the last few years, with a big chunk of our leaders coming from the general area. Morocco and Portugal have played a big role, and with our Inquisitor Ayuso developing nicely Spain is added into the mix. It feels right, and most importantly fun to me, so that's what I will continue to do. Don't be afraid to contact me either here through DMs or on Discord, I shall entertain most if not all offers at my convencience.
Good luck, and see you on the battlefield everyone.
Adler xox
I agree with the thought that no matter what, this is going to be Ayusos team. He's going to be an awesome rider
Quite a lot of points n sale with Reis and Aferwerki, but natural given ages. Will be interesting to see what you can raise and how your team looks like 2 weeks from now. Quite a lot of possiblities
Can easily remember back when Lecuisinier looked remotely close to Ayuso's current stats. It was so much fun to plan around the future star. I fully understand it
Ideally Reis would have been 2 years younger to lighten the proces, but I'm sure you can swap him out and get a very solid rider in return
With Reis and Afewerki on the block it should be a busy transfer window for you, not only selling them but only needing some replacements. But I'm confident you'll once again amaze us all!
Hey people, not much time today to cover our transfers, but I'd like to reveal our shirt for this year! Made by the amazing Hillis, we at Colombini absolutely love it. Enjoy!
Hey guys, quick update here on what we've done the past few days. At this point we have three incoming riders we'll be presenting for you. Let's dive right in!
This man right here needs no introduction. El Torito comes in at a wopping €950.000 wage. Will this relegate me? Most likely, is it worth it? 100% God has landed in San Marino.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Isaac Del Toro
68
71
69
68
71
70
72
63
60
72
65
69
67
Isaac Del Toro
71
81
76
76
78
77
81
63
60
75
68
70
75
With Reis on his way out we needed a replacement, capable of getting as much points as possible to keep our chances of survival up. Ayuso was sold to the Crazy Chicken Brothers to make space for our sexy Mexican, and with that Ryan Eastman makes his way into the team!
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Ryan Eastman
69
81
70
76
75
74
74
55
61
68
72
65
72
Quite shamefully we never managed to sign a single San Marino rider since our debut season, but we finally did it! In your face Sammy, you hoarder! Andrea Alfio Bruno gets signed for a wage of €80.000. Not sure what path we'll be going with but hes a stunner.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Andrea Alfio Bruno
68
62
70
60
69
70
63
62
66
68
69
68
59
With a potential of 5, he will develop into a nice hill focused puncher, definitely an improvement on past Sammarinese leaders on the market!
There's more to come, albeit mostly sales and whatnot. Perhaps even our first training session, who knows.
@tastasol, will definitely be a top, top rider for us for many years to come!
@Heine, if Reis can almost get us promoted I have more than enough faith in Eastman and Powless to keep us up
@red i did mention there being one scenario where Ayuso would leave, and this was it. Del Toro is definitely staying with us for as long as I can keep him.
Del Toro to you seems logical with the Mexican sponsor and your profile picture, and it just feels right. Looking forward to the Ayuso - Del Toro battles in the future
We don't have much more to announce, as most of our transfer window has been outgoing transfers which will be covered in the third and final part. Today we announce two beautiful talents we have recently signed.
Awet Aman is the most promising of the two, with Del Toro coming in we need some decent Domestiques for when he maxes out, and what's better than having a team of talents who will max out and finish their careers side by side with him. The Eritrean is a decent climber who will be able to support him on those long winding mountain sides.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Awet Aman
63
68
69
60
65
68
66
58
62
65
62
66
59
Awet Aman
64
77
72
60
73
75
70
58
62
69
67
74
59
Following Awet, Ronn- I mean Finlay Pickering was also signed onto the team. Not sure if this is the development path we'll take with him but he looks more like a hybrid Domestique than anything else, which should also be nice to aid Oscar Onley who we signed last year! Both were signed on at minimum wage which was the absolute max we could do and also get to twenty riders!
Colombini Kometa 
