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BARCELONA – Barcelona today announced they had sold 10% of their Liga television rights for 25 years to the US investment group Sixth Street for €207.5 million (RM953.33 million).
“Sixth Street will initially invest €207.5 million and in return will receive 10% of the Club’s LaLiga TV rights for the next 25 years,” Barca said in a statement.
The deal will allow Barcelona, beset by financial problems, to end the fiscal year that closes today in profit.
Catalan sports daily Sport reported that otherwise Barca “would have ended the financial year with a loss of €150 million.”
“With this transaction, FC Barcelona generates a total capital gain of €267 million for the current season,” said the club statement.
Barcelona, along with Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, opted out of a deal in January with another American fund, CVC, to buy between 8% and 11% of the broadcasting and commercial rights for the top two Spanish divisions for 50 years.
In May, Real agreed on a deal with Sixth Street and Legends which it called “a premium experiences company for sports and live venue organisations, for 30% of revenue “sports and live venue organisations” at the Bernabeu Stadium, which is being redeveloped, for 20 years for €360 million.
Last August, Joan Laporta, who returned as Barcelona president the previous November, said an audit had uncovered total club debts of €1.35 billion. The club had let Lionel Messi leave last June saying they could not afford to keep him even at a reduced salary.
Today, Laporta welcomed his club’s deal in a statement.
“We are activating economic levers and executing on our patient, sustainable, and efficient strategy to strengthen the club’s financial footing,” he said.
Sixth Street CEO Alan Waxman, was also quoted in the statement.
“We believe in the strategy Joan Laporta and FC Barcelona are implementing and are proud that one of the most celebrated clubs in football has chosen us to be its partner and capital solutions provider,” Waxman said.
The sale of television rights was one of two “levers” approved last week by a meeting of club members to raise revenue quickly so Barcelona could make signings for the coming season.
The assembly authorised the transfer of up to 25% of the television rights income for up to 25 years, which means that Laporta can still seek a buyer for the remaining 15%.
The members also approved the sale of 49.9% of its licencing and merchandising division, BLM.
“We will once again have positive funds,” Laporta told the members when he asked them to vote for the measures.
“We will repay our debt in a reasonable way and we will be able to make the necessary investments to make our teams more competitive.” – AFP, June 30, 2022