Real Madrid turns to banks to raise funds for €500m revamp of Bernabeu
July 27 – Real Madrid are going to the financial markets to raise between €400 million and €500 million for a remodeling of their Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
Finance
Is Gazidis next? Are back-from-the-bring AC Milan gunning for Arsenal boss?
July 26 – Speculation is mounting that Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis is set to follow manager Arsene Wenger out of the club, marking the end of an era, to join AC Milan.
Out of ammo? Usmanov now looks ready to sell 30% Gunners stake
July 25 – The on-going shareholder battles at Premier League Arsenal have taken a new turn with Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov (pictured), who has repeatedly failed in his attempts to increase his 30% stake in the club, now apparently putting his holding on the sales block to anyone but rival American shareholder Stan Kroenke.
Suning Sports raises cash and buys into streaming channel as Inter add new Chinese partners
July 25 – China’s Suning Sports, part of the Suning group of companies that owns Italy’s Internazionale, is moving more aggressively into the sports business with a find raising reported to have raised $600 million.
AC Milan cleared to play in Europa League after CAS rules in favour of new owners
July 23 – In a rare ruling against football’s authorities, AC Milan have been reinstated into the Europa League next season after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned UEFA’s decision to exclude them for infringing financial fair play (FFP) rules.
The economics of Ronaldo – counting the €340m cost and opportunity of Juve’s superstar
July 23 – Cristiano Ronaldo’s €117 million transfer from Real Madrid to Juventus has polarised opinion with car union protests over the ‘immoral’ size of his transfer and wages, and fan excitement at what he will bring to the Italian champions.
Egyptian and US investors take control at Aston Villa, but Xia keeps a stake the game
July 23 – Aston Villa is under new majority control after billionaire businessmen Naseef Sawiris and Wes Edens bought a reported 55% controlling stake in the club for £30 million from Chinese owner Tony Xia.
Fans spend €1.3bn in Russia during World Cup 2018
By Paul Nicholson
July 20 – Overseas fans in Russia for the World Cup spent about €1.3 billion between June 14 and July 16, according to a report by Russia’s Sberbank.
Hannover 96 vow to overturn ‘incomprehensible’ 50+1 DFL ruling
July 20 – Hannover 96 failed in its bid to get an exemption from Germany’s 50+1 ruling to allow the Bundlesliga club’s president Martin Kind (pictured) to take control, but has said it will appeal against the German Football League (DFL) ruling.
Mbappé tops U21 ranking, more than double the value of Rashford and Jesus
July 19 – France’s standout forward Kylian Mbappé is the most valuable under 21 player in the world, twice as valuable as England striker Marcus Rashford, according to a new report that values Mbappé at £170.2 million.
Goals Soccer Centres warns investors UK’s extreme weather will impact year end results
July 19 – Goals Soccer Centres has warned that the impact of extreme weather in the UK in first quarter of 2018 will leave full year financial results “materially below market expectations”.
Billion dollar Barca. Club hit record revenues but profits edge down
July 19 – Barcelona have posted record revenues for the 2017/18 season and financial year of €914 million ($1.07 million). The club showed operating profit of €32 million, leaving net profit after tax of €13 million.
Melwood’s days numbered as Liverpool give go-ahead for new training campus
July 18 – Premier League Liverpool who completed a rebuild of their Main Stand at Anfield two seasons ago, are now focussing their construction attention on the £50 million redevelopment of the club’s Academy site in Kirkby which the club has said will now go-ahead.
Fiat workers to strike over ‘unacceptable’ cost of Ronaldo
July 13 – Juventus’ acquisition of Real Madrid and Portugal superstar for €112 million plus a €30 million per year salary, is not being welcomed everywhere in Italy.
Elliott takes control at AC Milan and throws club another €50m
July 12 – AC Milan’s Chinese buyer Yonghong Li has lost control of the club after US hedge fund Elliott Management announced it has taken over the Italian giants following Li’s failure to make a €32 million loan payment.