Real Madrid is poised to change the club’s ownership model to allow for external investment for the first time in their history, with a statutory reform that would allow outside investors to acquire up to a 10% minority stake in the storied club, while ensuring that the 100,000 socios, its members, retain absolute control.
President Florentino Pérez recently outlined the proposal at the club’s annual general assembly, emphasising that this move is about asset protection and global valuation, not financial necessity.
A Framework for Smarter Voice AI Decisions
Deploying Voice AI doesn’t have to rely on guesswork.
This guide introduces the BELL Framework — a structured approach used by enterprises to reduce risk, validate logic, optimize latency, and ensure reliable performance across every call flow.
Learn how a lifecycle approach helps teams deploy faster, improve accuracy, and maintain predictable operations at scale.
Since its founding in 1902, Real Madrid has operated as a member-owned club, resisting privatisation pressures even as football’s global financial landscape evolved. The forthcoming reform would see the creation of a wholly-owned subsidiary, into which up to 10% of shares, though more likely around 5% initially, could be sold to one or more outside investors. These investors would act as strategic partners, committing significant capital for a purely financial stake, but would have no voting rights or influence over club governance. Critically, Real Madrid would always retain a right of repurchase, and the members’ control would be permanently enshrined: each member holding a single share, which is inheritable by descendants, anchoring the club’s identity in its community and history.
The mere fact that global investors are willing to commit hundreds of millions, or perhaps up to €1 billion, for a small minority interest signals enormous confidence in Madrid’s brand and financial prospects. Although this is not intended to address any immediate cash need, the club has reiterated it remains the world’s wealthiest in football. The influx of external capital can bolster the balance sheet, fund strategic projects, and fortify the institution against external and internal threats.
The move is also likely to spark significant interest from family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and institutional investors attracted by the limited-risk, high-prestige nature of the investment, without the governance headaches of full ownership. These prospective investors are not buying influence, but the right to participate in the appreciation and commercial evolution of one of the most valuable sports assets in the world. According to recent reports, multiple major international funds have already expressed willingness to value the club at close to $10 billion, reflecting its commanding position at the summit of global sporting and commercial success.
For existing members, the proposal contains extensive safeguards: the new structure would need to be approved in an extraordinary assembly and, ultimately, by referendum. Socios would never lose control, and their stewardship would be formalised for future generations, ensuring that Real Madrid’s legacy remains in member hands. The management insists this is about shielding the assets and value the club has built, especially amid what Pérez describes as “external and internal attacks,” including regulatory, legal, and commercial pressures.
In parallel, Real Madrid remains prominent in its legal battles with UEFA over the aborted Super League. Pérez has signaled the club will pursue substantial damages, possibly in the billions, citing recent positive court rulings. This legal campaign further underscores Madrid’s ambition to shape the future structure. and revenue model of European football, with potentially massive financial upside if successful.
Overall, Real Madrid’s bold move sets a new standard for institutional control and financial innovation in sport. It promises to unlock value for members, attract blue chip investment, and further cement the club’s place at the center of both football and global sports business.