Barça Stand To Pocket €2m From MLS

FC Barcelona’s commitment to set up a sister club in Major League Soccer could see them rake in €2 million per year, but only if they can successfully strike up a tax exemption deal.

Oct 31, 2008 4:05:06 AM

Barcelona training in Central Park, New York (Goal.com)

The Blaugrana general director, Joan Olivé, is in the United States trying to negotiate a deal to have any potential earnings that the club would make from their participation in an MLS franchise exempted from tax.

Olivé’s arguments have not been very successful thus far, but he is convinced that the initiative will be an historic venture that will benefit the MLS, football in general in America and the club that Barcelona will eventually be affiliated with.

Marca has reported that the MLS outfit, which will not take the name ‘FC Barcelona’, is expected to earn a surplus of $8-9 million per year (€6-7 million), of which €2 million will go straight to the Catalan giants.

However, the sister club, which will be based in Miami, is expected to profit in the long run from Barça’s global image and growing popularity in the US through various sponsorship deals.

As part of the agreement, Barcelona are also expected to assemble two football academies that will specifically instill the club’s philosophy of the game, while the first team will continue to tour the country as part of their pre-season program.

Miami is seen as an ideal set-up due to the large Hispanic presence from different countries, while the stadium at Florida International University will host the home matches.

Real Madrid signed a 10-year co-operative agreement with MLS side Real Salt Lake in 2006.

KS Leong, Goal.com

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