Football clubs are the rage of the crowds. Millions of people spend their evenings, not only in the big arenas, but in cafes and homes to watch the magnificent players kicking the ball.

            The Financial Times and KPMG, the accountancy group, have just made a study which shows the clubs under a totally different light. Billions of euros and pounds, enormous spending, wages, of course high in comparison with the rest, and a relationship between wage money and results which is sometimes very surprising.

            Manchester United is the highest spender in Europe with a 321 million euro wage bill, but only fifth in the English Premier League last season.

            During that time, Athletico Madrid paid 137 million euro for its players personnel and became finalist in the European Football Champions League. Again, during the same time, Barcelona spent 372 million euro on its players.

            Obviously those numbers show that those football clubs have become showbiz companies with huge budgets, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of fans and nothing to do with football, the game.

            Real Madrid is the most valuable club in Europe, as far as players are concerned, with 700 million dollars, followed by Barcelona with 600; Chelsea and F.C. Bayern following with 500. PSG of France is only at 200 etc.

            An expert from KPMG, Mr Sartori, says “clubs that continue notably to outperform on the pitch compared with their spending on their players, could soon find themselves among the highest earning European clubs”.

            The study contains endless series of numbers and economic considerations. Same names come back and back again. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Munich, Arsenal etc.

            And on top, the English Premier League gets 5.1 billion pounds from Sky and BT for broadcasting rights, while in Germany, Sky and Eurosport pay 4.6 billion euro for the same. Last year, European clubs spent around 4 billion dollars on international transfer fees.

            Big business, big money, huge crowds. Sport…