Barcelona - The Financial Black Hole
We knew Covid would highlight the clubs that are poorly run as with reduced revenues those clubs would be exposed. Barcelona was one club that has poor business practices and one can argue that this is not a business and more like a charity. The sale of Neymar a few years back gave their profits a huge boost but they don't have a Neymar to sell every season.
It was revealed today that Barcelona have to make some drastic changes before they can do anything this season. The club is more than $1 Billion in debt and topping that is 40% over the Liga wage cap. In order to sign any new players they need to fix this immediately. I have always looked at football clubs with curiosity as how are they allowed to get away with this? If you are a business with over $1 Billion in debt how on earth do you get any funds? Every season they go deeper and deeper into debt and it has to come to an end at some point. It is not surprising that Barcelona wanted the Super League to go ahead as it could have bought in more revenue for them which they are desperate for. This club looks like a sinking ship as how do you fix these financials?
It is not only the new players that they have already announced who are in limbo land like Aguero and Depay, but also Lionel Messi cannot renew his contract. There has to be player movements out before new names can come in.
Looking at the wage bill this does not look for good reading with 5 players over 30 with the best days behind them. Clubs need to be run like any business and holding onto depreciating assets that are costing you more each season is seriously bad management.
The club mentioned that they will most likely have to sell Griezmann in order to keep Messi. I know in the past clubs have faced penalties and certain sanctions for abusing the wage cap and this is seriously bad. 40% over is total abuse and it will be interesting to see the punishment dished out. La Liga have to take some blame as they approve every contract of every player in the Spanish league.
Last year Messi wanted to leave and was blocked not only by his club but also La Liga. They see the value of having him on tv being their main draw card. Is Messi honestly worth €70 million per year when lets be honest the club can't afford him. One player on his own is actually doing more harm than good for the club.
Every season La Liga looks at the balance sheets of all clubs and informs them of what they are allowed to spend. This is in order to protect the Liga and to make it sustainable. Back in November last year Barcelona was told to reduce their wage bill allowing them a wage budget of €383 million compared to €671m in 2019/2020. If that is the case then every player on this list above needs to be sold as the club has to find €288m in reduced salary costs. The problem is where do you start as with an ageing squad the value is no longer in the players. Barcelona haven't exactly rotated players in and out adding no business value.
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are also in a similar position having to reduce their wage bills by 27%. Like any business foot ball clubs are no exception and need to stick to the key principles of sustainability which is spending less than what is coming in.
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I think it is interesting that all of this info is so transparent. I can't ever remember hearing about a pro sports team in the US that was so far in debt. I am guessing there are ones that were, but you never heard about it.
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I doubt if any of the American sports teams would get themselves into this kind of mess. Those are run as businesses and this is a train wreck.
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It sounds like it!
Oh sound interesting to know that la-liga looks at balance sheets of all clubs and informs them of what they are allowed to spend. I believe it's for there own protection to be candid.
Thanks for sharing
La Liga doesn't just look at the books but they hold the players contracts as well. This I find bizarre and only was reveled when they blocked Messi's move.
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Alright thank you for sharing.
You are doing well
The financial model by which most big clubs in Europe operate on is the idea that the next TV rights deal will be bigger than the last therefore you don’t need to worry too much about loses today because you’ll make it up tomorrow.
As the major leagues begin to hit the glass ceiling in terms of those TV deals we’re going to see some big clubs go under or as you mention they have to find a new way of generating greater revenue like a break away super league and/or new ways to limit expenditure like wage caps which bizarrely most leagues have been reluctant to impose.
The pressure as well for La Liga and all the other leagues in Europe is they are trailing the Premier League in terms of TV revenue and spending power.
Just don't see any way out as more than $1 Billion is huge and it doesn't matter what TV deal they have they are screwed. The squad is needing a make over and don't understand why they have allowed this to slide for so long. The Suarez sale two seasons ago was to show Messi that they were in charge and to trim his wings.
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I'm a big fan of the way you have bounced between the topics of athletics and finance. I will feature this article on my new leo all stars segment! I hope it brings the article more engagement, it was very interesting material.
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Thanks for that. I like combining different things looking at a different angle.
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Oops. now it is up. Hive is moving a bit slow across the board lately
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Just typed a whole thing up and hit post and then it disappeared... Going to be a few minutes now lol
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Barcelona will be in travel in between choosing griezmann and Messi. but cost is the most important factor for this moment as League is not going on as same as previous time
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