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European champions FC Barcelona announced on Thursday a record turnover of 608 million euros ($690 million, A?447 million) for their treble-winning 2014-15 season, but saw profits fall due to player bonuses and transfer fees. “The club made a profit, (the financial situation) is solid,” said Barca vice-president Susana Monje. “We are on course to reach the target we have set of reaching a turnover of one billion euros.” A second treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey in six years saw Barca’s income grow 15 percent from 530 million euros the previous season. However, profits fell 36.5 percent from 41 million euros to just 15 million. The fall in profits was due to higher player bonuses as a result of such a successful season on the field and a busier than normal transfer window during 2014 due to a one-year ban on registering new players this year. Knowing they wouldn’t be able to register new players between August 2014 and January 2016, Barca spent over 150 million euros on the likes of Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the summer of 2014. “Due to the FIFA ban we had to sign double what we are used to,” added Monje. Debt also increased from 287 million euros to 328 million with Monje warning that the board will therefore be forced to show “economic prudence next season.” However, Monje insisted that the club will be able to add to their short and injury-stricken squad should coach Luis Enrique request more reinforcements to go with Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal, who were signed in the summer from Atletico Madrid and Sevilla respectively, but won’t be registered to play until January. Monje also claimed Barca “will be able to increase the salary of players” in reference to ongoing contract negotiations with Brazilian star Neymar. The club estimate that the current 2015/16 season will produce a 20 million euro profit with turnover increasing to 633 million euros thanks to new marketing deals signed with Asian and Latin American sponsors in recent years. In September, Barca’s La Liga rivals Real Madrid announced a turnover of 660.6 million euros with an after-tax profit of 42 million. By AFP . |
