Revista de la Liga looks at why the big two Spanish clubs will never be owned by foreign billionaires.
La Liga won't fall into the wrong hands
Revista de la Liga took a look at why the big two Spanish clubs will never be owned by foreign billionaires.
Unlike most football clubs in Europe, Real Madrid and Barcelona are owned and operated only by its members, called socios.
However following the recent meetings between Manchester City and Real Madrid representatives, it has been speculated that ownership could change like it has in the Premier League.
"The story is that Sheikh Mansour and Florentino Pérez have been business partners for a long time," explained Guillem Balague on Revista.
"There have been representatives from Real Madrid and Sheik Mansour meeting in December. In those meetings there were questions like 'How much will it cost to buy Real Madrid?'
"The answer was you cannot buy them as it belongs to the socios. Although there is a little clause that says that things could change but it requires a referendum which is too complicated and it won't happen."
Graham Hunter agrees with Guillem and says that Spain will never follow in the footsteps of English clubs being owned by foreign billionaires.
"I honestly think that it is impossible," explained Hunter.
"The fans who I speak to and who Guillem speaks to at matches watch England with a mixture of fascination and horror. They see what is happening at Portsmouth. They see the debt that has been incurred by the Glazer family at Manchester Uinted. They see that Liverpool have owners who are split and cannot agree on things.
"They love the soap opera and the love the product from England but they don't approve of the ownership model. Those socios at Real Madrid and Barcelona would have to vote themselves into a position where they could sell the shares. I can guarantee you that they value their independence and their voice far too much.
"To be honest I think that clubs in England and Scotland would be far better run along the lines of Real Madrid and Barcelona than being sold out to foreign billionaires and never being shown what is going to happen next."
