Eduard Romeu, FC Barcelona's Vice President of Economics, recently shared insights into the club's financial transformation, signaling a shift towards fiscal responsibility.
Romeu emphasized the club's commitment to achieving budgetary equilibrium.
"From the first moment, we said that our goal was to achieve a balance in the budget," he stated.
"From the first moment, we said that our goal was to achieve a balance in the budget," he stated.
This is the point we have been working towards these two years. Everything has a maturation period, and we have used the famous levers, which still have extraordinary results.
In discussing the club's financial challenges, Romeu acknowledged, "We had 200 million euros in annual losses that forced us to carry out extraordinary operations known as levers. We asked the partners for 4 years of patience to reverse this situation, and we have done it in 2."
Despite this financial upheaval, FC Barcelona managed to maintain its competitiveness on the sporting front, clinching the La Liga title last year.
However, Romeu expressed concern over a lingering legacy debt situation.
However, Romeu expressed concern over a lingering legacy debt situation.
"We still have a legacy debt situation that worries me, but with a painful Viability Plan, we have been able to present a balanced budget without levers," he revealed.
Romeu continued, "The club is losing 200 million euros annually since the 17-18 season. To reverse this situation, we have carried out extraordinary operations, and we have explained it. Before, other operations were carried out to make up the numbers, such as revaluing players."
Romeu also highlighted the club's financial performance, "We budgeted income of 1,255 million euros and we have achieved 1,259. We have some negative points such as the television income due to the early elimination in the UCL that penalized us by 23 millionβ¦
or the transfers made, especially for Griezmann's 20 million."
Romeu credited other sources for compensating these losses.
"These situations were compensated with more income. From the stadium, 28 million euros more than expected and an additional 19 million euros from the commercial part.
"These situations were compensated with more income. From the stadium, 28 million euros more than expected and an additional 19 million euros from the commercial part.
In addition, an extraordinary 400 million euros were added for the second sales lever of 15% of rights."
When asked about the ambitious budget of β¬859 million, Romeu acknowledged the challenges.
"It is ambitious. There is a drop in stadium income of β¬78 million due to the move to MontjuΓ―c, less than initially expected.
"It is ambitious. There is a drop in stadium income of β¬78 million due to the move to MontjuΓ―c, less than initially expected.
There are β¬28 million more because I am sure that we will reach the quarterfinals of the UCL."
The commercial sector also saw an increase due to strong store performance.
In terms of expenses, there was a decrease of β¬333 million, with β¬184 million attributed to the wage bill.
In terms of expenses, there was a decrease of β¬333 million, with β¬184 million attributed to the wage bill.
Romeu emphasized, "In total, we will have a profit of β¬11 million, the most important thing is that we have been able to fix the losses of β¬200 million."
Underlining their commitment to fiscal responsibility, Romeu mentioned, "It decreased from β¬676 million to β¬492 million. The squad is younger and more competitive.
Furthermore, we have done it by complying with the contracts, without putting our hand in the players' pockets and respecting the 'MΓ©s que un Club' values."
Regarding potential signings in January, Romeu concluded, "In two and a half years, we have been able to meet the needs of the technicians, so if the case arises, we will make every effort to meet their requests."
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