Almería's Debt Revealed: NYT Puts Numbers on Rojiblanco Finances
The New York Times investigation reveals UD Almería's financial position among Spanish clubs, with a €27m debt that ranks third highest in Segunda División.
Almería’s Debt Exposed in American Press Investigation
The financial books at UD Almería have been given a proper going-over by The New York Times, with the Mediterranean club’s debts now out in the open for all to see.
The Numbers Game
According to the prestigious American newspaper’s investigation into LaLiga clubs’ gross debt, Almería is carrying a €27 million financial burden - making them the third most indebted club in Spain’s Segunda División.
To put that in perspective:
- Cádiz tops the Segunda debt table with €40 million
- Las Palmas follows with €36 million
- Almería shares the same debt figure as top-flight Girona (€27m)
- Granada’s debt stands at €19 million - eight million less than Almería
Before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, this level of debt isn’t particularly alarming in football terms. Most clubs operate with some level of debt as standard practice - it’s part and parcel of the modern game.
The Big Picture
While Almería’s figures might raise an eyebrow, they’re absolute peanuts compared to the big boys. The usual suspects are drowning in red ink:
- Barcelona: €1.451 billion (yes, billion with a ‘b’)
- Real Madrid: €1.302 billion
- Atlético Madrid: €550 million
Talk about being skint! Those numbers would make your average East End bookie break out in a cold sweat.
Solutions in Sight
Almería has two clear paths to balancing the books:
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Promotion to Primera: According to club director Mohamed El Assy, the difference between Primera and Segunda División is roughly €100 million in revenue - primarily from TV rights and sponsorships. A return to the top flight would sort their financial Adam and Eve in one fell swoop.
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Player Sales: The club already demonstrated this approach last summer, flogging assets like Luis Suárez and Marc Pubill for a tidy profit of approximately €60 million. This allowed them to build a more economical but still competitive squad.
Despite the belt-tightening, Almería still boasts the highest market value in Segunda at €47.65 million according to Transfermarkt. Not too shabby for a club in the second tier.
Winter Window Plans
Interestingly, the debt isn’t stopping Almería from eyeing reinforcements. Manager Rubi has confirmed plans to bring in a striker and potentially a winger during the January transfer window, suggesting the club’s financial situation isn’t as dire as the raw numbers might indicate.
For a club with promotion aspirations, these calculated risks on the financial front might just be the ticket back to the promised land of LaLiga.