FCBARCELONA.CAT

19.08.2009 20:04

The biggest budget in Barça history

Vanessa Forns

The highest budget in the history of the club has been approved by the Delegates’ Assembly for the 2009/10 season with a total of 407 votes in favour (95 &), six against (1.4 %) and 15 abstentions (3.6 %) of the €405million proposal.

In the same manner as last term, the Delegates' Assembly have approved the budget on Wednesday as the third point on the agenda. The treasurer and economic vice-president, Joan Boix, explained that the club expects a budget of €405milion during the 2009/10 season, and has made it very clear that this budget has "been made possible from the most rigorous and realistic angle". Boix also assured that "the growth in income in the past six years exceeds all expectations" and has been "sustained and continuous".

Overall increase

Boix also outlined the club's plans for an increase of €20.2million with respect to what was earned last season, meaning that the budget will increase "from €384.8million to €405million". That will see an increase of 6.2 per cent and in that sense it is necessary to highlight the decision of the Blaugrana board of directors not to increase the amounts for the club members for the year 2010. Moreover, the parts corresponding to the media, with the new plans that the club have agreed with UEFA and Mediapro, will mean an increase of 3.3 per cent.

Balance and austerity

With the idea of presenting "a very balanced and austere" budget Boix pointed out that a decrease in income return has been forecast because "we only budget for the team to reach the quarter finals of the Champions League". A decrease is also foreseen on the marketing side that will go from €117.4million to €114million "as this budget does not predict the club winning three major trophies and, therefore, does not quantify the variables from sponsors or the income from UEFA beyond the quarter finals of the Champions League".

Player sales

Boix then stated that an income of €25million is foreseen for the sale of players and around €15million for the sale of land next to the Ciutat Esportiva.

Expenses claim

On the matter of expenses, Boix indicated that "an increase of €12.6million is foreseen" and the growth "is compensated for by the increase in income, which is around €20.2million". Thus some expenses that will not exceed €375million, which will generate a profit of €30million in toal and €20million before taxes, are foreseen for the season.

Barça's treasurer then explained that the outlay in wages on the sporting front had increased by 1-7 per cent and will be €202million, while the amount corresponding to personnel has gone down 3.5 per cent. "One of our priorities is obtaining the maximum profitability from the staff that we have," Boix added.

Further investment

On the club's other assets will continue to receive investment as the Ciutat Esportiva and Camp Nou will have improvements done. Also, 0.7 per cent of income will continue to go to the Foundation in order to promote "a task of solidarity that has drawn admiration from around the world," Boix explained.

Profit margin

Boix, speaking for the board of directors, then said he was proud of the "the evolution of the economic results" throughout this mandate. With the budget outlaid to the Assembly, the board will conclude their mandate with a profit of €144million since they took over in 2003.