Atletico Madrid eye €400m revenue by 2019/20



Miguel Angel Gil Marin, the chief executive and majority shareholder of Atletico Madrid, has announced the club's bold plans to increase their annual revenue to 400 million euros by the 2019/20 season.
Breaking the figure down, Los Rojiblancos hope to bring in 250m euros in television rights and through participation in continental competition, while the remaining 150m euros is expected to come from ticketing and commercial activity.
Speaking at the World Football Summit, Gil Marin was clear that player sales would not be included in the 400m euro target.
In explaining how the capital city club would reach that number, he pointed to the recent increase in Atletico's number of members - up to 92,000 right now and expected to reach 100,000 by 2017 - as well as the fact that LaLiga's television income should increase by 30 percent over the coming three years.
He also discussed the idea that Los Colchoneros' income from the Champions League could potentially double under format changes.
Chinese company Wanda recently purchased a 20 percent share in the club and their role was also discussed in the talk, with Gil Marin downplaying Atletico's reliance on their investment.
"Their investment is worth 60m euros and we could cover that with one transfer," he said, before insisting that no shareholder really owns a football club.
"A club is not the property of any individual, but of the fans, the players, the ex-players and the media, which is why we must make the financial model compatible with the philosophy and values of the club."
The Wanda partnership is more than just a financial partnership, the director explained, with their presence in foreign markets such as China, Australia, the USA and the rest of Asia important in spreading the club's brand.
The World Football Summit is taking place this Thursday and Friday in Madrid. Atletico Madrid budget for next season is projected to be the largest in club history.
A new television deal, fresh sponsorship agreements and Champions League success have allowed the Rojiblancos to set a preliminary budget of €240 million, plus whatever is earned from player sales.
Plans are already in place to increase spending even further.
"We plan to double [our budget] in the next three years, which will allow us to stay as one of the top 16 clubs in the world," CEO Migel Angel Gil told reporters.
Atletico have already spent nearly €50m this summer - €25m on Argentine midfielder Nicolas Gaitan, €15m on Croatian defender Sime Vrsaljko and six million on Portuguese teenager Diogo Jota.
They have also made sizeable offers for strikers Diego Costa, Gonzalo Higuain and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The club is expected to recoup some of that money by selling a few of its younger players, with Oliver Torres, Luciano Vietto, Javier Manquillo and Borja Baston among those rumoured to be heading out of the Spanish capital.

Comments