Spanish soccer giant Real Madrid can get its hands on a bonus payment of $156 million if its wins the newly-designed Club World Cup in the United States this summer according to MARCA, which cited anonymous sources.
Many outlets such as The Guardian have reported how the organizer of the tournament FIFA plans to distribute $1 billion among the 32 participants, which will try to go all the way on American soil between June 14 and July 13.
As MARCA points out, this is the largest prize money ever distributed in a club soccer tournament, and the newspaper believes that one of the reasons for such a generous payout is the fact that the tournament held every four years has already been criticized before having a chance to get off the ground.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has often spoken out about how overloaded the sport’s calendar is, and he had to rectify comments that he made claiming that reigning Champions League king Madrid would not go to the tournament held at the end of the European club season at the height of summer.
While behind the scenes Madrid - ravaged by injuries this term - might not be keen on going across the Atlantic, it has a considerable financial incentive to do so as highlighted by MARCA.
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The outlet explains that Madrid is the club with the largest amount of money guaranteed before the start of the tournament - €35 million - which is made of fixed sums and other amounts that correspond to attendance figures and “the commercial attractiveness” of each entity.
Madrid has three games guarantee against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal (June 18), Mexico’s Pachuca (June 22) and Germany’s Red Bull Salzburg (June 26) where victory is worth $2 million dollars and a draw $1 million.
Getting to the last 16 brings a €7 million payday, with reaching the quarterfinals sealing €12 million.
Semifinalists get €20 million, while each finalists is in line for €28 millions and the winner will be lavished with €37 million.
In total then, Real Madrid can replenish its coffers with around $156 million (€145 million) by winning all its group games and lifting the inaugural Club World Cup, with certainly gives Ancelotti and Co. food for thought.
With FC Barcelona missing out on qualification, Atletico Madrid is the other of two Spanish clubs that will feature at the tournament.