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Global Sport Business Journal

Abstract

Despite the growing globalisation of football, little research has examined how foreign players create competitive advantage in non-traditional leagues. Using the Resource-Based View (RBV), this study explores the on- and off-field impact of foreign players in Peruvian Liga 1 clubs. Semi-structured interviews with 12 sporting directors, commercial managers, scouts, and coaches were analysed thematically, revealing five themes: physical characteristics, leadership and mental strength, cultural barriers, competitive salaries, and commercial blindness. Findings suggest that although foreign players provide valuable physical and psychological attributes, these are rarely sufficient to create sustained competitive advantage. More notably, clubs fail to capitalize on foreign players' commercial potential through branding and fan engagement, while cultural and financial constraints further limit value creation. The study extends RBV by demonstrating that competitive advantage depends on how clubs leverage foreign talent rather than the talent itself. Practically, clubs should strengthen recruitment, player integration, and commercial strategies to maximize the value of foreign players.

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