The Roadmap for Atlético Madrid: cutting debt, reducing labor costs, protecting revenue, and fortifying the workforce
With three months left in the cycle, Atlético de Madrid is advancing in its offices with deliberate pace. The plan is clear: shrink debt, trim wages, preserve income, and strengthen the squad while balancing investments and divestments. As GOAL has reported, the club’s balance sheet as of 30 June 2022 shows a net financial debt of 592 million. Participating in the LaLiga Impulso initiative, the project funded by CVC adds a new element to the accounts. It does not count as income but increases debt obligations, shaping the club’s financial strategy.
Maintain sustainable revenue growth and partner relationships
On the earnings side, Atlético posted a revenue milestone of 444 million with a net turnover around 377 million. Regarding naming rights for the Metropolitano stadium, Cívitas is set to continue the sponsorship for ten seasons, totaling 84 million (8.4 million per season). Whalefin is not expected to renew as shirt sponsor for the next season, pushing Atlético to explore a fresh commercial agreement. In the membership and subscription sphere, the club is growing its base, reaching 135,000 members, of which 58,500 are subscribers. The path is clear: expand audience, deepen partnerships, and sustain revenue streams to fund ongoing competitiveness. [CITATION: Goal]
Tighten the belt, recalibrate salaries and investments
For the playing squad, the wage bill stood at 212 million in the 21-22 season. For the current year, the budget sits around 209 million for sports personnel. The club is keen to tighten further, aligning with industry norms that favor prudent spending. Clubs face fair-play constraints, liquidity challenges for large transfers, and a two-pronged approach: secure high-value sales and pursue free-agent acquisitions with transfer premiums, or negotiate deals that avoid cross-club transfers. Atlético’s wage-cap after the February update sits around 315 million euros, with comparisons to Barcelona at 648 million and Real Madrid at 683 million. The aim is to reduce the wage bill and, when favorable offers emerge, close operations that save wages and generate capital gains to reinvest. [CITATION: Goal]
Open operations and new scenarios on July 1
Throughout the Simeone era, GOAL estimates that Atlético has invested about 1,043 million in transfers over eleven years, with 969 million realized in sales. The accounting includes Antoine Griezmann’s 20 million sale. As of July 1, Atlético expects to see its “mattress” expand: a fixed income of 45 million from Matheus Cunha to Wolverhampton, with Hertha retaining 10%, potentially another 30 million from Renan Lodi if Nottingham Forest exercises its option (though that seems unlikely), and roughly 18 million from the option with Barça for Yannick Carrasco. Should Barça execute the transfer after July 1, the Belgian would depart, even if higher offers exist elsewhere. Absent a sale, his contract runs to 2024. A crucial consideration for the next squad is Joao Felix, who carries 38 million in pending write-offs as of July 1. His contract runs to 2027, but pressing for a departure would trigger a transfer fee of around 100 million. By month-end, Atlético could be left with a 63 million liability from Cunha and Carrasco, and around 93 million considering Lodi, excluding other variable factors tied to Joao Felix. The potential for substantial capital gains remains a central theme. [CITATION: Goal]
Prospects for sales and the plan for loan returns
On the sale front, while the club’s primary aim is Champions League football, there are reportedly significant offers for several players who perform well in both domestic and international leagues. If the right terms arise, deals will be considered, provided they don’t undermine the team’s competitiveness. In addition, a group of players returning from loans in July could alter the balance. Among those options are Riquelme (Girona), Lino (Valencia), Manu (Osasuna), Camello (Rayo), Marcos Paulo (Sao Paulo), and Vitolo (Las Palmas). The club intends to use the pre-season period to evaluate who stays, who extends, and who returns to join forces with other clubs or be transferred elsewhere. Optimism runs high about the potential contributions these players can deliver in the upcoming campaign. [CITATION: Goal]
Reinforcement policy and market movements
Strength in the squad has always depended on smart selling before big signings. Fans may dream of Mbappé or Haaland arrivals, but the plan emphasizes fiscal discipline. The club is pursuing players who fit two principles: affordable market opportunities or free agents with no transfer fee, while ensuring the wage structure remains within a prudent range. Atlético is seeking a right-back, an additional left-footed option, perhaps a center-back pair, a midfielder, and a striker—roughly five to six additions. Interest areas include several full-backs in the domestic market (Arnau, Maffeo), potential dealings with Barça, and interest in Soyuncu and Íñigo Martínez, though concrete offers are not yet in place. Two midfielders with expiring contracts and a couple of strikers could enter talks from July. With three months to go, the plan remains anchored to maintaining workforce and income while pushing for a place among champions.