Atletico Madrid Planning €2.5 Billion Sale Of Majority Stake To US Firm: Reports

Atletico Madrid (AFP Photo)

Atletico Madrid’s ownership group is in advanced negotiations to sell a majority stake in the Spanish club to US private equity giant Apollo Global Management, according to multiple reports citing sources close to the discussions.

Both Atletico and Apollo declined to confirm the news when approached by AFP. Still, the development comes at a time when Atletico, Spain’s third-largest club, are under pressure to attract new funding to remain competitive domestically and in Europe.

“Open to a New Investor”

Speaking at a sports and business event hosted in part by ExpansionAtletico CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín acknowledged the need for outside investment.

“To get good results and keep the fans happy, you have to keep investing significant money in players and infrastructure,” Gil Marín said. “That investment has to come from outside… now we are open to a new investor coming into the ownership group.”

Apollo, which manages over $800 billion in assets and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, reportedly values Atletico at €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion). Spanish daily Expansion reported that the deal could be executed through Apollo’s newly established $5 billion sports investment fund.

Who Owns Atletico Now?

Currently, Atletico’s ownership is divided among four key partners:

• Holdco, controlled by Gil Marín, with a 70.39% stake
• Quantum Pacific, owned by Israeli magnate Idan Ofer, with 27.81%
• Within Holdco: Gil Marín controls 50.82%, Ares Management owns 33.96%, and club president Enrique Cerezo holds 15.22%

Apollo is believed to be negotiating with these stakeholders to purchase a controlling stake.

On-Field Struggles and Financial Context

Atletico, last crowned La Liga champions in 2021, are enduring a poor start to the current campaign, sitting 12th in the table. The club has invested heavily in recent years, moving to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in 2017 and maintaining one of the highest wage bills in Spanish football.

The sale, if completed, would mark one of the most significant foreign takeovers in Spanish football, echoing similar private equity moves into Serie A, Ligue 1, and the Premier League.

(with AFP inputs)