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The strongest football team in Europe at the moment might end up in the top three most profitable clubs on the Old Continent. This is speculated after yesterday's announcement of the financial report of the Catalonia club. On Tuesday's meeting of the "Barcelona" club's Junta Directiva (Board of Directors - the managing body of the club), Vice President of Operations and Finance Ferran Soriano, presenting the economic/financial results, stated that the team made a profit of 16.7 million euros during the 2005-2006 fiscal year. The financial revenues could have been higher, but "Barcelona" paid substantial bonuses to the players who won the Spanish league and the Champions League. It is planned that the total revenue of the club for the past year will be 259 million euros, which is 51.2 million more than the previous year. Preliminary calculations suggest that "Barcelona" may be one of the three most profitable clubs in the world in 2005-2006. In 2003, the Catalan team was only 13th in the world in terms of this indicator. Now we are waiting for other global giants to publish their financial reports. Due to the club's successful financial performance and fixed profit in all areas of activity, the club's debts, which remained after the reign of the unsuccessful Joan Gaspart, have been further reduced: in the 2005-2006 season, the club's debts decreased by 23.7 million euros and now, instead of 92.2 million euros, they amount to 68.5 million. The current expenses of the club are 242.3 million euros, compared to 189.5 million previously. According to Vice President F. Soriano's calculations, "Barcelona" can expect revenues of 300 million euros next year. 10 million euros will be allocated to the maintenance of various "Barcelona" sports complexes (Camp Nou, Palau Blaugrana, etc.). The treasury of the Catalonia superclub will also be significantly supplemented by the sale of television broadcasting rights. According to the agreement between "Barcelona" and the "Media Pro" conglomerate, the club will receive 1 billion euros for the right to broadcast Spanish championship matches over seven years. The club's report presented on Tuesday has not yet been signed by the club president Juan Laporta. It is believed that the official document that has already been prepared will be signed immediately after the club president elections. Currently, J. Laporta is identified as the sole and most realistic candidate to assume this position.
