FC Barcelona Have Already Earned $61 Million Champions League Windfall
FC Barcelona have already earned a windfall in the Champions League worth over $60 million as reported by Mundo Deportivo, which is more than they took home from their last two completed participations in the tournament.
Barca have begun 2023/2024 in fine form on the continent in terms of results, winning three from three to top Group H with one foot already in the knockout phase for the first time since 2021.
As implied, Barca failed to get out of the group in their past two attempts so naturally that brought the club’s threadbare coffers less money.
Already in this sitting, Barca have secured $8.8 million (€8.4 million) for the three wins and could double that amount by repeating victories over Shakhtar Donetsk, Porto and Royal Antwerp before the close of 2023.
According to UEFA, teams are awarded $2.95 million (€2.8 million) per victory in the group stage and $985,000 for a draw.
This amount can be added to the $52.3 million (€49.65 million) Barca already have guaranteed, which is made up of $16.5 million (€15.64 million) for qualifying for the competition and $36 million (€34.11 million) for being its third best performer over the past 10 years according to Mundo Deportivo.
Such sums are much welcomed by the Catalans, who revealed late last month that the club’s net debt still stood at $583 million (€552 million) at the end of the financial year on June 30, 2023, which was down from $718 million (€680 million) on the same date in 2021.
With Barca unwilling to sell any of their big stars such as Pedri and Gavi, who have garnered interest across the Old Continent, prize money in the Champions League could prove one of their main sources of income in a season where the target is to at least reach the quarter finals and seal a further $21.4 million according to UEFA.
Ahead of the next international break, Barca have a chance to add another $2.95 million to their bulging account by beating Shakhtar in Hamburg on November 7.
On November 28, it is Porto’s turn to travel to the Montjuic Stadium where the Blaugrana will look to repeat a 1-0 win in the Estadio do Dragao at the start of October.
