Apollo Sports Capital He became the major shareholder of Atletico Madrid After acquiring a majority of the capital in a process announced on Monday. The company is a subsidiary of Apollo, an American alternative asset investment fund that manages a portfolio worth approximately $908 billion (to be precise).
The operation – which came to light in mid-September – represents a complete change for the Spanish Football League and Another step towards the financialization of sportswhich has become an object of desire for the world’s largest asset managers.
Although there are already foreign investment funds in national football (for example, VSP in the ownership of Espanyol), never before in the history of the competition has a club been left in the hands of a company as large as Apolo. Something that In competitions like the Premier League, it’s starting to become more common (Bournemouth, Burnley, Chelsea have investment funds in their ownership.)
Apollo has already invested $17 billion in assets related to the world of sportsFrom sports and entertainment companies to media rights, stadium and league financing. Among the most famous are participations in the Mutua Madrid Open or the Miami Open Tennis Championship. In the world of football, Nottingham Forest (Premier League) loan stands out for £80 million over three years, with a high interest rate of 8.75%. The British club provided its stadium, among other assets, as collateral for the operation.
In the case of Atlético, Apolo enters directly into ownership of the club, which… This makes this a “flagship” investment in the fund’s sports portfolio, Which confirms that it does not intend to create a time-sharing structure for football clubs (similar to the City Group that controls Manchester City, Girona, Troyes or Palermo).
The New York-based multinational company will retain Miguel Ángel Gil (CEO) and Enrique Cerezo (President) on the board and will provide key financing so that the club can implement its ambitious project to build a sports city around its stadium. Your idea is A long-term project to invest in, whether in equipment or large infrastructure.
Booming market
The arrival of major asset managers into the world of football comes at a time when the market is booming. It is increasingly common to see player transfers exceed or reach 100 million, and investment funds argue that they can make a profit. Funds provide quick money, but often at high interest rates They go where traditional investors wouldn’t dare because of the risks inherent in sports (irregular seasons, divisional relegation, injuries…).
Asset managers like Apollo They see football as a growing avenue through which they can realize benefits. Operations such as the $500 million with which Ares (also an Atletico Madrid shareholder) financed Chelsea in 2023 or the $100 million with which PGIM refinanced Wolves’ debts are a good example of this.
In Spanish football, perhaps the most famous case is that of CVC boxwhich acquired 8.25% of LaLiga’s broadcasting rights over the next 50 years for an investment of $2.1 billion. Money that clubs can allocate to improving infrastructure and international development and, to a lesser extent, to reducing debt or expanding salary caps.
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