Is there a way back for Real Madrid and Barcelona?

[VP89]

I am not familiar with either's finances, but they both seem in a dire situation from a money perspective. The last few years in Europe point to far more English team prominence, and if not the PL then PSG or Bayern.

The Premier League & PSG will pay more, the domestic competitiveness in England is a lot more exciting whilst Bayern is generally a well run and efficient club too. I honestly wonder which players would point to Real or Barcelona and think "this is a good idea" for a club that's got European sights. The last time Real looked like this, they were able to go out and bring in Kaka, Ronaldo, Kroos, Modric etc. Can they do that again? They need 1) the same prime attraction and 2) the finances do so.

And speaking of finances, Barcelona?!

So my question is, are Real and Barcelona risking falling levels below European's elite? Or is there a way back for them to get back into prominence? Both giants look progressively worse each year for the past 3 years.

EDIT - sorry mods, accidentally posted in the United forum. I appreciate a thread move if possible!

 

[Harry190]

If he dies, he dies.

 

[Samid]

European Super L... oh wait

 

[wolvored]

Real and Barca have a magic about them that always attracts the majority of players, so of course they will come back. Whether that is next season or a couple of seasons time, they will be prominent in the Champions league again.

 

[Teja]

This is why the ESL got traction in the first place. The football royalty are broke and can't compete in the new world.

The locus of football power is shifting to oil money / PL money clubs. I suspect Bayern will eventually fall as well because PL clubs started competing for players in the Bundesliga.

 

[Vidyoyo]

We can only hope not.

 

[::sonny::]

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[VP89]

Real and Barca have a magic about them that always attracts the majority of players, so of course they will come back. Whether that is next season or a couple of seasons time, they will be prominent in the Champions league again.

I'm sure similar was said about Serie A with Milan and Inter. Whilst drastic to even think about right now, I wonder how they can attract players with their finances relative to the other clubs.

 

[tinfish]

If Spain nurture their talent well enough then those clubs will snap them up first-hand. I think that is the only way they would be able to compete in the future.

 

[VP89]

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Which ones are they - Real, Barca and the Italian clubs right?

 

[Gambit]

In answer to the thread, hopefully not.

 

[::sonny::]

Which ones are they - Real, Barca and the Italian clubs right?

Milan, Juve

 

[Dan_F]

Ramos, Modric, Kroos, Benzema, Hazard over 30. Even Casemiro, Nacho, Carvajal, Isco, Courtios are 29. That’s going to need some insane spending, yet there’s still talk of them signing Mbappe or Haaland.

 

[Chairman Steve]

Unless global warming effects turns the Spanish climate into some tundra hellscape, players will still want to go there.

 

[Oranges038]

Maybe some dodgy land deals and some more tax breaks might help.

 

[Morty_]

People always like to gloom and doom, they face challenges right now, but they will be back challenging for the top again soon enough.

 

[Redfrog]

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They should leave the Champion's league to City, Chelsea and PSG. Forgot, they already did it with their joke of FFP. The good thing about SPL was the expendiure and salary cap. But they will never do that as they are too corrupt.

 

[Redfrog]

Ramos, Modric, Kroos, Benzema, Hazard over 30. Even Casemiro, Nacho, Carvajal, Isco, Courtios are 29. That’s going to need some insane spending, yet there’s still talk of them signing Mbappe or Haaland.

In few years they will be back as always, but if I was a player I would not go there right now.
But they need to find money as the PL is sucking all of it !

 

[SCP]

Quite honestly I don't know from which country you are, but being from Portugal the one thing I know for sure is that Real Madrid and Barcelona will be always top clubs. Tbh they had much worse periods on their history, believe me. Whether that means they will win the Champions League in 1 or 5 years it's another history, but they will always stay on top.

 

[wolvored]

I'm sure similar was said about Serie A with Milan and Inter. Whilst drastic to even think about right now, I wonder how they can attract players with their finances relative to the other clubs.

Well Madrid sold their training ground for £200 million about 20 years ago, im sure the Spanish govt will find something else they can greatly overpay for to bail them out.

 

[Borys]

They are still closer to challenging then us, especially if there will be low budget this summer for United.

Madrid are still good, although they are getting old.

 

[jesperjaap]

I'm sure similar was said about Serie A with Milan and Inter. Whilst drastic to even think about right now, I wonder how they can attract players with their finances relative to the other clubs.

I would agree with the Barcelona and Marid will always attract the best players and find ways of raising the finances.....but, yes Italian football in general pretty much died when it stopped beign the major financial power house of a league within Europe.

AC Milan did manage a brief comeback, the side around 2005 was a really good side packed with talent.....still not a patch on those of the late 80s and 90s. Its actually sad to see how poor bar that brief spell they have been for a good 25years almost as for me growing up history and prestige wise, there was Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan and the other elite clubs including ourselves were a rung below them.

YOu look at Madrid and most of the youngsters dont seem quite there, a few flops like Hazard, but the majority of that side are just old, huge rebuilding job to do. Lets be honest, outside of Bayern, PSG and to a lesser extent DOrtmund, EUropean club fooball as a whole is going through a poor period. Lets be honest, we are looking almost certain to reach the Europa League final and for me, we havent played a team anything above average quality wise the whole way through

 

[VP89]

Quite honestly I don't know from which country you are, but being from Portugal the one thing I know for sure is that Real Madrid and Barcelona will be always top clubs. Tbh they had much worse periods on their history, believe me. Whether that means they will win the Champions League in 1 or 5 years it's another history, but they will always stay on top.

Of course, but there has been a big shift whereby I can't recall a time where there was such a disparity between Real/Barca and the others.

It's not like they only have to worry about us or Bayern or Milan. There's 4-5 big teams with much better finances in England, 1 state run club in Paris and a very well run huge club in Germany that monopolizes on their homegrown and league talent.
They were able to pay big money for Galactitols over the years and that's been their trick. But now I really wonder how they can do it. Mbappe would be a huge statement of course, but no idea how they can have the financial strings to do it.

 

[el3mel]

Madrid reached CL semi final this season. Their squad is crap but Zidane knows how to get results. Maybe they won't win it any time soon but I think he'll be able to stay around QF and SF for the next few seasons at leasts.

Barca are the ones who barely even challenge for CL anymore.

 

[Iker Quesadillas]

Real Madrid are not in a dire financial situation.

 

[Smores]

There's a lot of talk about their debt but they'll just roll it over. Isn't our own net debt higher than either club?

The issue both clubs are having is they haven't transitioned properly. A bit like we did there's a real chance they suffer even if they do splash the cash.

 

[VP89]

Madrid reached CL semi final this season. Their squad is crap but Zidane knows how to get results. Maybe they won't win it any time soon but I think he'll be able to stay around QF and SF for the next few seasons at leasts.

Barca are the ones who barely even challenge for CL anymore.

Very true re. the keeping competitive point there. But looking at their squad, Benzema is getting on, Modric/Kroos the same. God knows how they are going to rebuild without being able to pick the best players in the world for big money.

 

[Iker Quesadillas]

But looking at their squad, Benzema is getting on, Modric/Kroos the same. God knows how they are going to rebuild without being able to pick the best players in the world for big money.

A lot of the players in RM's threepeat squad weren't very expensive.

They'll be in real trouble if all the young players they bought don't pan out, but that's a problem anyone could have.

 

[SER19]

City's bench would beat both. And that gap will widen for years to come

 

[Traub]

They’ll be bailed out by the government in the absolute worst case scenario. They’re institutions in Spain, and don’t actually cost that much relative to other state owned enterprises and strategically important financial institutions.

 

[smi11ie]

Spanish football is declining. They have created a non-competative league by giving most of the tv cash to the big clubs. Ronaldo has left and Messi is aging. Madrid and Barca are both reportedly in financial trouble.

Oh well. Adios Amigos. Enjoy the huge ESL penalty from UEFA.

 

[BaillyBaillyBailly]

Madrid reached CL semi final this season. Their squad is crap but Zidane knows how to get results. Maybe they won't win it any time soon but I think he'll be able to stay around QF and SF for the next few seasons at leasts.

Barca are the ones who barely even challenge for CL anymore.

I would say Barca actually look in a better position than Real.
Barca's debt is much deeper, but they look to be getting Messi (who looks really back at it recently) on a reduced contract because nobody else can afford him.
They also have really promising young players that they are using regularly now and their form in the league (last week aside) is good, they have picked up a hell of a lot of points since the turn of the year. Players like Pedri, De Jong, Mingueza, Araujo, Dest, Trincao. This means they can sell some of their older players and still fall back on these.

 

[VP89]

A lot of the players in RM's threepeat squad weren't very expensive.

They'll be in real trouble if all the young players they bought don't pan out, but that's a problem anyone could have.

It might just be me, but I see very little in Real's younger players compared to Chelsea, United or City. Heck even Liverpool if you want to consider the likes of Curtis Jones and TAA.

 

[JuveGER]

They are the two clubs with the highest revenue. Even with debt servicing, there should be enough money left to build competitive squads if they spend it reasonably well.

 

[mshnsh]

South American talent as well as talents from the iberian peninsula will always prefer Barcelona and Madrid. They may be down but eventually with time they will return. Same with the likes of Bayern and Juve, they will always be there or there abouts.

 

[Daysleeper]

I would say Barca actually look in a better position than Real.
Barca's debt is much deeper, but they look to be getting Messi (who looks really back at it recently) on a reduced contract because nobody else can afford him.
They also have really promising young players that they are using regularly now and their form in the league (last week aside) is good, they have picked up a hell of a lot of points since the turn of the year. Players like Pedri, De Jong, Mingueza, Araujo, Dest, Trincao. This means they can sell some of their older players and still fall back on these.

Don’t forget Ansu Fati who has a great future when he recovers from injury. Well said

 

[theralyst]

It's cliche but football cycles and all that. They will be back. MIght be in a decade but they'll be back at the top sooner or later. Hell, Liverpool did it.

 

[charlenefan]

This is the second time in my time of following football the two Spanish giants have looked down and out and then came Messi and Ronaldo

Its just part of the cycle, they'll be back sooner or later

 

[TheMagicFoolBus]

Don’t forget Ansu Fati who has a great future when he recovers from injury. Well said

He has just had the entire meniscus taken out of his knee though. Sadly I suspect his recovery may trend more towards the domain of "if" rather than "when"...

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

PSG & City are a massive massive problem for them, they are for everyone really.
Long term, no-one can compete with a bottomless pit.