MADRID CATCHING US UP

Last updated : 20 July 2004 By editor

FLORENTINO PEREZ insists Real Madrid are now the biggest club in the world — and that will be the clinching factor in sealing Patrick Vieira’s transfer from Arsenal.

The Real president said:

“Some years ago Manchester United were the best-selling club in the world because of the simple fact that they had a marketing policy that was 10 years ahead of everyone else.This is no longer the case because right now there is nothing to match the global impact of the Real Madrid brand.”

“We are the No 1 — not just in football but in all sport.”

“This year we are going to earn 138million euros (£92.46m) just from marketing, which is equal to the total income from all sources four years ago.Back then when I took over as president I found Real Madrid was not heading in the right direction. Since then, we’ve got the club back on track.”

“We have shown that investing in the best players can be profitable.”

“We’ve shown it pays to invest in the best players. Just like other business sectors, we have tried to develop a good product that sells.”

A study by financial experts Futurebrand consultants valued Madrid’s brand name last year at £185m and gave United the edge with a value of £191m.

But Perez insists Madrid will come out on top at the end of the current financial year.