Real Madrid Up for Sale: Discover the Preliminary Price Tag

Real Madrid is exploring selling up to 10% of the club to outside investors while keeping member ownership intact. Club president Florentino Pérez wants to bring in external capital without changing the traditional ownership model that has defined the Spanish giant since its founding.

The plan would allow an outside investor to buy between 5-10% of Real Madrid, while members retain control of the remaining 90-95%. Current members could sell their stakes for around $100,000 each, according to Spanish newspaper El País.

Pérez values the club at more than 10 billion euros in preliminary assessments. That puts Real Madrid among the most valuable sports franchises globally, competing with NFL teams and other soccer powerhouses like Manchester United.

But here's the key part - any investor wouldn't get strong voting rights. The club wants to create a new entity within its structure that limits outside influence. Members would still control major decisions through their traditional voting system.

This isn't a done deal yet. Any move needs approval from club members through a referendum. That means the proposal could face resistance from fans who want to keep outside money away from their beloved club.

Spanish network SER reports that Real Madrid has no plans to become a publicly traded sports company. The ownership structure would stay in members' hands, just like it is now.

The financial motivation is clear. Real Madrid wants to strengthen its balance sheet and fund infrastructure projects. The club recently spent heavily on renovating the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, which reopened with new revenue streams from concerts and events.

European soccer has seen mixed results with outside investment. Some clubs like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain transformed after major capital injections. Others struggled with debt or lost their identity when investors took control.

Real Madrid's approach tries to thread the needle - get the money without losing control. Whether members will approve this balance remains to be seen.