The Mattress Roadmap: Reduce Debt, Lower Labor Costs, Preserve Income, and Strengthen the Workforce
With three months to go until the end of the course, Atlético de Madrid is working in the offices. Slow but sure. The club designs a roadmap in which the objectives are clear: reduce debt, lower wages, maintain revenue and strengthen the workforce, while maintaining a balance between investments and divestments. As GOAL has already published, the club’s latest balance sheet, as at 30 June 2022, indicates that the club has a net financial debt of 592 million. The club joined the ‘LaLiga Impulso’ project to boost the club’s digital infrastructure and structures, and this money from ‘CVC’ brings an important nuance to the accounts. It does not count as income, but as debt.
Maintain sustainable growth in revenue and partners
As for the relevant earnings, Atleti shoots up to 444 million, with a net turnover of 377 “kilo”. As for the ‘naming’ of the Metropolitano stadium, ‘Cívitas’ will maintain the permanence of the agreement, for a total of 84 million for ten seasons (8.4 million/season). As for shirt sponsorship, ‘Whalefin’ would not appear again next season and Atleti are looking for a new commercial deal. In the social section, the club continues to increase the number of members and subscribers. It already has 135,000 members, of which 58,500 are subscribers.
Tighten your belt, adjust salaries and investments
As for the team, Atleti spent 212 million on salaries in the 21-22 season. For the current season, it budgets 209 for sports personnel. And there, at that moment, Atlético wants to tighten its belt even more. The context of the industry rules. The clubs have problems with fair play, they have to measure their investments, they have no liquidity for large transfers and they look for solutions in two directions: First, sell well and at a good price; and secondly, the signing of players at ‘zero cost’, free agents, to whom a transfer premium must be paid, but no transfers between clubs. He Atleti’s salary cost limit after the last update in February is 315 million euros (for Barça’s 648 and Madrid’s 683). Atleti wants to reduce the wage bill and if good offers come, close operations that allow them to save wages and gain capital gains to reinvest.
Open operations and new scenarios on July 1
During the Simeone era, according to the calculations of GOAL, in the last eleven years, Atleti has invested 1,043 million in transfers, of which 969 in sales. Those accounts include the transfer of Antoine Griezmann for 20 million. However, from July 1, Atlético will see its ‘mattress’ enlarged. He will receive the fixed income of 45 million for Matheus Cunha, transferred to the ‘Wolves’ (the remaining 10% is for Hertha), he could receive an additional 30 “kilos” for Renan Lodi if Forest exercises his option (it does not seem likely ) and add about 18 million for the option agreed with Barça for Yannick Carrasco. If Barça pay from July 1, they will take the Belgian with them, even if they have higher offers from other clubs. If not, the player has a valid contract with Atleti until 2024. Another crucial consideration in the design of the next squad is Joao Felix. As of July 1, it has 38 million pending write-off. The player has a contract until 2027, but if he insists on leaving, the club will apply for a transfer for an amount of 100 “kilo”. That is to say that by the knockdown in June, Atleti could be planted with a remainder of 63 million (Cunha and Carrasco) and by the withdrawal some 93 million (including Lodi), without taking into account what can happen to Joao . Significant money in capital gains.
Chapter of possible sale and return of loaned material
In the chapter on possible sales, although it is early to speculate and the club’s sole aim is to play in the Champions League, Atleti understands that there are significant offers coming for several players who have a reasonably good line-up both in the Premier League as in the Premier League. and in the Series -TO. If good offers come in, they will be accepted. Of course, provided that the team’s potential does not change. To this can be added the ‘pack’ of yield that must return in July. This is the case, among others, for Riquelme (Girona), Lino (Valencia), Manu (Osasuna), Camello (Rayo), Marcos Paulo (Sao Paulo) or Vitolo (Las Palmas). The intention of the club is that they do the pre-season. It will be decided later whether they will stay, whether these assignments will be extended, whether they will join forces with other clubs or whether they will be transferred. There is a lot of optimism at the club about the future performance some of these mercenaries can bring.
Policy of reinforcements and movements in the market
Strengthening? The sports enthusiasts know the song by heart. A great signing only happens when a great sale is made first. The staff prefer to be told that Mbappés and Haalands will arrive in the summer, but this is the roadmap. Atleti are clear about their needs and will not go below their financial parameters. Look for profiles that meet two premises: market opportunities at a reasonable price or free agents for which no transfer is paid. The club is looking for a right back; another left-hander; a center that could be two; a midfielder; and also a striker. Between five and six pieces. He follows several full-backs in the national market (Arnau, Maffeo), he could do operations with Barça again (there are interesting pieces), he has agreed with Soyuncu, he is interested in Íñigo Martínez (he still has no specific offer) , he is eyeing two midfielders whose contracts expire in June and knows they will offer him two-three strikers from July. There are still three months to complete the course. And everything is conditioned by the essential objective of maintaining workforce and income. Enter champions.
Reuben Uria
Source: Goal