We could never compete with them on finances. Don't Madrid and Barca get about 60% of the TV money in Spain with the other 40% divided between the other 18 teams?
Correction - just under 50%
That is the reason why they are so far ahead of other clubs in Spain. But as I mention, we have things in our favour too. Commercial, better league, the history, the passionate stadia, the "home of football", higher gate and hospitality income. Even the being the English language clubs is a big issue. All of these translate to current revenue streams or streams that are currently underutilised (Jeez I'm sounding like a Henry parrot here but anyway..)
Spain has lower ticket and hospitality income per person, an incredibly weak local economy and a patchy domestic league.
My pt is that we'd slaughter Real 5-0 and noone would say "ah thats Real Madrid global aristocrats, 5 European Cups in a row". People would say "yeah thats Liverpool, 4 European Cups in x years".
The big difference between the current Madrid and earlier ones is that they made bold steps to invest in their identity as a 21st century global club. Profits are all retained, the stadium is treated like a cathedral rather than the piecemeal mess Anfield has been. But most of all, they paid the best wages and the biggest transfer fees. Yes that meant debt at some pts, but it paid off, because they are now held up again as the "ultimate football clubs".
And that means better income, and more players want to play for them.
If we did that, we could do atleast the same, and perhaps more.
In years gone by, Madrid were often nowhere near us.
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