Barcelona reports record revenue

Spanish Barcelona has revealed its financial report for the 2008/09 season during the club's Delegates' Assembly on Wednesday.

Despite the worldwide economic crisis the club managed to generate a turnover of EUR 384.8 million, almost 25 percent increase on the 2007/08 season figure (EUR 308.8m). Total operating costs climbed nearly EUR 70 million to EUR 362.4 million (07/08: EUR 292.6m). While operating profit grew from last season's EUR 16.1 million to 22.4 million, net profit was down by EUR 1.3 million to EUR 8.8 million.

The club's EUR 202 million wage-bill is up 22.1 percent but reflects a healthy 52.5 percent ratio on turnover.

According to Barcelona's treasurer, vice-president Joan Boix, income has continued to grow for the sixth consecutive year and its now the highest in the club's history. Boix added that the club also kept the level of debt stable and now hope to lower it.

"The economic model of FC Barcelona is solid and sustainable, independently of sporting success," Boix told delegates. "It's a model that has shown itself to be perfectly valid under the impact of the current serious economic crisis".

The club's Delegates' Assembly also approved a EUR 405 million budget for the 2009/10 season.