By David Gold
September 16 – Real Madrid have recorded revenues of €514 million (£414 million/$670 million) for the 2011-2012 season, a seven per cent increase on last year’s figures.
Their revenues were boosted by winning the Spanish Premier League title for the first time in four years, as well as reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the second successive year.
The club say this is the first time a football team has broken the €500 million (£404 million/$656 million) barrier, although profits are down from €31.6 million (£25.6 million/$41.5 million) to €24.2 million (£19.6 million/$31.7 million).
Madrid attribute the reduced profits to a number of factors including a change of tax regulations.
Their net debt is also down to €125 million (£101 million/$164 million), a reduction of €45 million (£36 million/$59 million).
The figures mean Real Madrid are likely to record the world’s highest revenue for a football club for the eighth year in a row.
Last season, Barcelona were the second richest team in the world in terms of revenue, followed by Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
Like the rest of the last year’s top five, these financial results underline the club’s strong position to meet the challenges of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules.
The 2011-12 season is the first season UEFA will analyse as part of these new regulations, which limit club losses and look to force teams to break even long term.
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