Madrid (EFE).- Spanish professional soccer clubs achieved income in the 2021-2022 season similar to before the pandemic, with a total of 4,838.1 million euros, representing an increase of 22.6%, and they expect to have a positive net result again next year, although still far from the years prior to the health crisis.
According to the 2021-22 LaLiga Annual Economic Report presented this Thursday, the clubs have managed to stabilize their net indebtedness, which stands at €2,102.4M (+0.8%), and are the ones with the lowest aggregate losses, with a expense figure of €4,978M.
The employers pointed out that it obtained the best aggregate net result of the 5 major leagues and will recover the leadership of income in relative demographic terms in the coming years.
€4,838.1 of total income (+22.6%)
Total revenue was estimated at €4,838.1M, a record that once again reached the maximum historical level of the 2019-20 season, with an annual growth of +22.6%, after the contraction of the previous 2020-21 campaign. which reduced this record to below €4,000M.
The game that grew the most was matchday, with €884M (+123%), due to the return of the public to the stadiums and the lifting of capacity restrictions.
Commercial income also had a notable increase (+2.9%) and recovered part of the loss of the previous year as a result of the pandemic to reach €931M.
Retransmissions, with €1,696M (+0.9%), transfers, with €402M (-25.8%), and other income with €925M (+119.3%) complete the income item.
In a comparison of income, the “Premier and the Championship” are in first place, with €8,400M, followed by LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank, with €4,838M. Italian Series A and B are in third place, with €3,653M, ahead of the German “Bundesliga” (1 and 2) with €4,476M and the first two French divisions, with €3,149M.
LaLiga considers that with these figures “it regains second place in the major leagues, both in absolute and relative terms (measuring per capita income and at the same price level)”.
“In this regard, the recovery of first place in relative terms will occur naturally over the next few seasons, when pre-COVID activity returns to the player transfer market, which is more contracted in Spain,” he maintains.
€4,978M of total expenses
The highest expense corresponds to the cost of the sports squad with 47% (2,320) and the other highest items correspond to the amortization of players, 14% (€687M) and other expenses, including taxes, 18% (€879 M) .
The weight of salary costs in relation to the net amount of turnover (INCN) has dropped from 81.2% to 75.1%, and in relation to total income from 61.4% to 54, 5%.
This, according to LaLiga, “demonstrates the effort that the Clubs are making to contain costs, with a view to optimizing their operating efficiency and improving their financial situation.”
Losses in net income -€140.1M (€759M), but with a lower deficit level
The aggregate Net Result was still at a loss (-€140.1M) but with a level of deficit ostensibly lower than that of the previous year (2020-21) and also that of the other major leagues.
The German “Bundesliga” suffered -205M€, the LFP in France a -601M€, the “Premier League + Championship” around -1,005M€, and for the ITALIAN Serie A + B approximately -1,150M€.
For LaLiga this confirms its “sustainable model and that of the Bundesliga, in contrast to others based on the absence of adequate economic control and the constant losses of its clubs, financed with systematic and huge contributions of resources from its shareholders, that is to say , an undeniable financial doping that alters the rules of ‘fair play’ and adulterates the competition”.
The aggregate operating result (EBITDA) of the Spanish competition, both before and after the results from player transfers, was again positive (€23.9M and 280.8M% respectively), but still far from the previous annual records. to the pandemic.
Net debt grows 0.8% and stands at €2,102.4M
Operating cash flow before net investment in infrastructure is once again positive, at €104.3M for the first time since the 2018/19 season.
Net debt has barely grown since the previous year, just +0.8%, standing at €2,102.4M, including the mobilized resources associated with the Impulse Plan, which are actually 50-year subordinated debt of the clubs.
LaLiga specified that these figures do not take into account the extraordinary financial resources obtained by Real Madrid and Barcelona as a result of their corporate asset monetization operations (ie sale of future rights).
Total Net investment grows again thanks to the increase in infrastructure investments, with important actions in stadiums and sports cities and it is expected to continue increasing thanks to the investments of the Impulse Plan and other renovations such as those of the Spotify Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabeu.
Net worth is estimated at €1,727M (+45.2%) with the Impulse Plan. Without this, it stands at €1,107M.
The Impulse Plan, to which 38 clubs have joined, is a strategic project with the CVC Capital Partners fund, which provides very long-term financing to clubs (50 years), aimed at making investments for growth (70%), financial debt (15%) and registration of players (15%).
CVC’s committed resources are €1,994M (€1,929M participation accounts in LaLiga + €65M share capital increase in LGI)
The consideration to CVC is 8.20% of the future return in 50 years of the total business of LaLiga (equivalent to 10.95% of the clubs adhered to the Participation Account).
The entry Spanish football clubs recover pre-pandemic income in 2021-22 with almost €5,000M was first published on EFE Noticias.