Atletico Madrid’s ownership group is in advanced talks with US private equity giant Apollo Global Management over the sale of a majority stake, according to reports citing sources close to the deal.
Neither Apollo nor Atletico confirmed the reports, but CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin hinted at the club’s need for external capital.
“To get good results and keep the fans happy, you have to keep investing significant money in players and infrastructure,” Gil Marin said at a sports and business forum. “That investment has to come from outside… now we are open to a new investor coming into the ownership group.”
Apollo is reportedly targeting shares from Atletico’s four current partners: Gil Marin, club president Enrique Cerezo, Ares Management, and Quantum Pacific, owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.
Through Holdco, Gil Marin controls 70.39% of Atletico, with his personal stake at 50.82%. Ares holds 33.96% of Holdco, while Cerezo owns 15.22%. Quantum Pacific controls 27.81% of the club.
Apollo, which manages more than $800 billion in assets, values Atletico at €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion) and could complete the acquisition via its $5 billion sports investment fund.
Atletico, who last won La Liga in 2021, are enduring a difficult start to the current season, sitting 12th in the table.
What you should know
The potential deal highlights the growing interest of US private equity in European football. Apollo’s move could reshape Atletico’s future by injecting fresh investment into players and infrastructure, while marking another major American push into Spain’s top-flight football.
