Barcelona and Real Madrid publicly criticized an agreement between the league and CVC Capital Partners concerning the firm’s proposed $3.2 billion investment in league assets.
La Liga needs a majority of the 42 teams in its first and second divisions to agree to the deal — which would see CVC receive 10% of the league’s revenue — for it to move forward.
- Real Madrid argued that La Liga was effectively offering up rights owned by the clubs: “This agreement, by way of a misleading structure, expropriates 10.95% of the clubs’ audiovisual rights for the next 50 years, in breach of the law,” the team wrote on Thursday.
- Barca critiqued the length and value of the deal, writing, “The terms of the contract that La Liga is describing condemn FC Barcelona’s future with regard to broadcasting rights.”
At a Friday press conference regarding the departure of superstar Lionel Messi, Barcelona president John Laporta noted that, ”we have received a terrible inheritance from the previous board which means that salaries at the Club represent 110% of income.”
The spat is the latest chapter in an ongoing clash over the financial future of La Liga and European soccer. Real Madrid and Barca have not disavowed their membership in the Super League, which would have created a midweek tournament among Europe’s top clubs.
Messi is now reportedly considering a two-year contract offer from Paris Saint-Germain worth about $35 million per year.
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