Real Madrid News
Real Madrid have earned an extra €4.7 million after reaching Champions League knockouts
Barcelona’s defeat to Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid’s draw with Bayer Leverkusen last night meant Real Madrid are the only team from La Liga to have qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.
Barcelona fell in Group C, behind Bayern and Inter Milan, while Atletico were not able to outperform FC Porto and Club Brugge. Sevilla, too, finished third in their group, behind Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
According to MARCA, Real Madrid being the only team to qualify for the Round of 16 has seen them earn additional revenue.
This is because of the ‘market pool’ system where the revenue gets distributed to the countries across Europe, after which it is distributed equally, based on the number of matches each team plays.
In Spain, for example, UEFA had provided a fund of €56 million, half of which was distributed at the start of the season. Real Madrid pocketed €11.2 million of that amount, while Barcelona were handed €8.4 million. Atletico and Sevilla received €5.6 million and €2.8 million respectively.
The remainder of the fund was to be distributed equally among teams, based on the number of matches they play. In the group stages, each team received €3.9 million. But with Real Madrid being the only team remaining in the competition, they are set to pocket more.
In fact, the Whites have earned €4.7 million extra just by securing a spot in the knockout rounds, taking their total earnings to €8.6 million already. And if they can once again reach the Champions League final, they could end up earning a total market pool of €11.7 million.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool monitoring 19-year-old Bundesliga wonderkid – Romano
According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool are all monitoring Bayer Leverkusen and Germany wonderkid Florian Wirtz.
After recovering from his ACL injury, the teenage sensation has been slowly working his way back to his best form. So far this term, Wirtz has managed to rack up a tally of two goals and six assists from 13 matches in all competitions.
The 19-year-old’s talent and potential have never been in question and hence it does not come as a surprise that elite clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool are all keeping tabs on the German international.
A versatile attacking midfielder, Wirtz is capable of playing anywhere in the final third of the pitch and backs up with top-notch end product. Be it as a false-nine or in a more withdrawn role, the youngster has excelled for Bayer Leverkusen, catching the attention of top teams.
Real Madrid, for their part, are also understood to be among Wirtz’s admirers. Given the situation surrounding Karim Benzema’s fitness and the lack of backup at the top, the youngster could be an option, as he has shown potential while operating through the middle.
But Barcelona also have a strong interest in the teenager with reports even suggesting that they have already made contact with his father to enquire about his situation.
At the same time, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is understood to be a huge admirer of his fellow German and with Roberto Firmino on his way out, Wirtz could be lined up as a possible replacement.
However, Romano adds that the expectation is that Wirtz could stay at Bayer Leverkusen for one more year and depart Germany once the UEFA Euro 2024 is out of the way.
For now, there have been talks or negotiations with any clubs, but Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool are all tracking Wirtz and his progress in Germany.
