Julio Senn, who was Real Madrid's general manager with Lorenzo Sanz and Florentino Pérez, reviews in an interview in The Galerna the economic repercussions that the pandemic is having on the football industry. The prestigious auditor, currently managing partner of the sports advisory firm Senn, Ferrero, Asociados Sports & Entertainment, praises the management that the white club has made based on a solid basis prior to the coronavirus crisis.
How the club and the players have managed the salary mass of the squad.— “At Real Madrid, where their salary bill represents 50%, exemplary management has been carried out, as the players have adjusted their salaries by 10% and, in addition, they have assumed not to charge any premium for winning the League. Another saving The players have done a great exercise of responsibility and I think that, given the perspective of the pandemic, unfortunately their effort may not stop there. “
The club's management in the face of the pandemic.— “I think the club is doing a very significant containment exercise. They said they were not going to sign anyone – which was incredible for the market – and they have. No one has been signed. In general, you have to admit that This year at the club they have done an excellent job, both at the end of the previous year and for the one we are in, although the effort has not yet finished and will have to be maintained. Investments have stopped, except for the stadium works ( they were already started), spending was paralyzed and we have managed to tie the year. Now we cannot spend the family inheritance overnight. And if the market contracts, we all have to continue tightening our belts. “
“Real Madrid has a pretty good financial situation”
Julio Senn, former general director of the white club, in 'La Galerna'
Is Madrid an economically healthy club? “Yes, certainly. You just have to look at last year's accounts and see the cash flow or the level of indebtedness it has. It has undertaken some investments with the guarantees of the income to be obtained. This is how you have to manage the house … and I say this because in many houses sometimes you don't earn enough money to pay the mortgage. The club is beginning a debt process with the guarantee of recurring income. In my opinion, Real Madrid has a pretty good financial situation. The only thing we could think with more concern is the investment that will be necessary to be able to renew the workforce, something that to some extent has been done systematically. But the truth is that this generational change will have to be done in the next two or three years and, with the stadium under construction, it may not be the most ideal time. Anyway, I trust the management team, made up of great professionals. “
The difference in how Barça has managed the 'Messi case' and how Madrid did it with Cristiano's departure. “The image of Barça is far above that of any of its players, including Leo Messi. I believe that the image may be affected, if anything, by how badly the club's conflict with its star was managed. In that sense , I think that Real Madrid knew how to resolve Cristiano's departure. He wanted to leave and a way out was negotiated; a price was set and everything was quickly resolved. It's much better than having a player against his will … and that one day I will send you a burofax. “
Madrid's commitment to young players.— “I believe that Florentino Pérez has always known how to develop his business plans based on differentiated strategies at each stage of his career. Today there are no top-level talents and, therefore, you have to create them … you have to know how to capture them, make them grow and have to mature. And, later, they may explode or not. But, of course, no one doubts that what is contracted today in the market for 30 million, I take it for example, is that it is worth them. Let's forget that Madrid has been betting on very young players for many years now. And from the point of view of risk, let's think that, in the face of a signing of more than 200 million, which can also be ruined, it is possible to hire 8 or 10 talented young people and try to turn them into stars. And this is how Real Madrid is experiencing the second stage of success in its history “.
Capacity of the current squad to face the three competitions.— “By quality, of course, it does. By technical capacity, too. But today there are some teams in Europe with great economic potential that have developed impressive, very powerful squads. Although sometimes that has not guaranteed them anything, not even being in a Champions League final. But, if you look at it, they can be younger and as competitive squads as ours. Competitiveness is good and necessary. We cannot always be winning the Champions League. And for that we have to build squads in constant development … “.
“The players have adjusted their salary by 10% and gave up the premium for the League; they have done a great exercise of responsibility”
The future of Madrid as a club.— “Florentino Pérez's way of managing the Club allows us to visualize a club owned by its members for at least the next 20 years. Unless someone comes and breaks it! But having perfected our usual model, with new income, we it allows us to have an independence that we didn't have before. “