Daily Sports News, according to a report released by the Catalan School of Economists, there is a significant difference in the income structure between Barcelona and other top European clubs.
In the "Financial Report of the Five Major European Leagues" for the 2023-24 season, Barcelona ranks at the forefront of European football with revenue of 762.3 million euros, at the same level as Paris Saint-Germain (807.9 million euros), Manchester United (769.5 million euros), Bayern (765.4 million euros), Arsenal (717 million euros) and Liverpool (713.7 million euros).
The above-mentioned clubs form the second echelon of Europe's economic strength rankings, second only to the far-leading Real Madrid, which ranks first with revenue of 1.065 billion euros, more than 300 million euros higher than Barcelona.
Although Barcelona is comparable to major European clubs in terms of revenue, its financial structure does not appear to be stable enough. The main problem is TV rights revenue, with Barcelona receiving only 143.9 million euros, accounting for 10.4% of La Liga's total revenue.
In comparison, the TV broadcast revenue of Premier League teams is much higher: the TV broadcast revenue of clubs such as Manchester City (342.7 million euros), Arsenal (304.9 million euros) and Liverpool (236.9 million euros) far exceeds that of their Spanish counterparts. Even a club like Manchester United with similar total revenue has a clear advantage in TV rights.
On the other hand, Barcelona's financial model and structure are closer to Paris Saint-Germain, which also faces the problem of low domestic television broadcast revenue. Paris's television broadcast revenue in Ligue 1 is only 55.7 million euros, but Paris makes up for this shortcoming through excellent business operations.
For the two clubs, Barcelona and Paris, marketing and sponsor support are key factors in maintaining economic budgets. However, PSG has stronger commercial appeal, allowing it to keep spending high without hurting operating profits.
Bayern's financial income (765.4 million euros) is almost the same as Barcelona, but its operating structure is more stable: the total salary is lower, debt is well controlled, and the financial position is balanced.
This Bundesliga giant is a model of efficient operation. Internal management can maximize the use of resources without putting pressure on the accounts. In contrast, Barcelona's salary ratio remains above recommended levels, which is a drag on its financial operations and reduces room for maneuver.
The comparison of Spanish domestic teams is also meaningful. Real Madrid's annual revenue exceeds 1 billion euros, with diversified revenue sources and a reasonable cost structure; while Barcelona has high revenue, but has an excessive salary burden, a temporary drop in matchday revenue due to the renovation of the Camp Nou stadium, and less television broadcast revenue. The financial gap between the two clubs has widened for the third consecutive year.
In the 2023-24 season, the major leagues generated a total of 20.598 billion euros in operating income, of which the Premier League once again led the way with 7.477 billion euros, which is close to the combined total of the Bundesliga (3.777 billion euros) and La Liga (3.887 billion euros). Serie A reached 2.906 billion euros, and Ligue 1 reached 2.551 billion euros.
Television broadcast rights remain the main source of income for European football clubs, accounting for 46% of total revenue, equivalent to 9.389 billion euros. The Premier League gets 51% of its revenue from television broadcasts, La Liga 48% and Serie A 49%. The Bundesliga is 41%, while Ligue 1 is the only league where TV broadcast revenue is not the main source, accounting for only 30%. In contrast, marketing occupies a dominant position in Ligue 1's revenue, reaching 60%.
The core problem of European football club finances is the imbalance between income and expenditure. The operating costs of the five major leagues totaled 25.068 billion euros, which was 44.71 billion euros higher than revenue. Among them, salary expenses are as high as 13.163 billion euros, accounting for 64% of the total expenses. This increasing pressure limits the club's operating space.
The leagues with the greatest operating pressure are Ligue 1 and Serie A, both of which suffered operating losses of 31%. Even the Premier League, the richest league in the world, recorded a negative income of 19%.
Debt is also another risk factor. Taking La Liga as an example, the club's accumulated total debt is 5.244 billion euros, while its revenue is only 3.887 billion euros, showing a high debt ratio. Ligue 1 is also showing warning signs, with debts of 4.795 billion euros and revenue of only 2.551 billion euros. In contrast, the Bundesliga presents the most balanced and sustainable situation.
Barcelona faces financial pressure
In the global context, although Barcelona is still a giant in terms of revenue, its financial pressure is greater than other clubs of the same size in Europe. While its commercial capabilities remain strong, Barcelona's high cost structure, declining matchday revenue and reduced revenue from television rights have put Barcelona at a competitive disadvantage.
In contrast, Real Madrid is the most profitable and stable club in Europe. The overall financial strength of European football is growing, but the growth rate of revenue is far lower than the growth rate of expenditure. Sustainable development has become a new topic.
Barcelona promotes the development of the women's football league
The report also specifically mentioned the continued growth of women's football. In this area, the Barcelona women's football team is obviously the main driving force for the women's football La Liga. Not only does it dominate the competitive field, the Barcelona women's football team also leads in terms of popularity, audience numbers and economic influence.
Barcelona Women’s Football Team is the Women’s La Liga team with the most fans, has the highest TV ratings, and accounts for most of the commercial revenue of the Women’s La Liga.
Barcelona Women’s football team, as European champions and the benchmark for women’s club football around the world, has raised the level of competition in the Spanish Women’s Football League, allowing it to continue to grow in terms of professionalism, investment and media attention.
Analysts agree that the Barcelona women's football team is now one of the club's most stable strategic assets and a key factor in the international expansion of Spanish women's football.
source:kết quả bóng đá m7