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Real Madrid could bring in outside investors

Real Madrid are stepping up plans towards a radical change in their ownership structure — one that would allow external investors to purchase stakes in the club for the very first time.

Madrid have been owned by their socios (club members) since being founded in 1902 and any adjustments to that model would require them to approve it in a vote. Only three other clubs have the same structure in Spanish football — Athletic Club, Osasuna and Barcelona.

Madrid are the only club in world football to have recorded revenues over €1billion (£870million; $1.2bn), a total reached over the 2023-24 season according to a Deloitte report (€1.045.5bn was the exact figure).

Despite this, Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, has spoken about how being owned by members holds them back in certain ways, especially when competing in the transfer market with rival clubs backed by billionaires or sovereign wealth funds.

Madrid’s president is now set to present new details and further plans to move towards these changes at the upcoming general assembly for 2025. No date has been set for the event, but it is expected to be held before the end of November.

One idea that has already been discussed internally would see Real Madrid being effectively split into two different entities — separating the football side from the business side. In this way, socios would still technically retain ownership, while investors would be invited to purchase shares in the club’s business operations.

The Bernabeu hierarchy are well aware of the value of their club. One source suggested Madrid could be worth as much as €10billion — the same as the Dallas Cowboys, the NFL’s most valuable franchise.

No matter what new model is chosen, any money raised from investors would go into the club: to strengthen the team, or go towards paying the Bernabeu redevelopment costs.

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