Key Takeaways:
- Apollo Global Management has acquired a majority stake in Atletico Madrid, valuing the club at approximately €2 billion
- Incumbent CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin and president Enrique Cerezo will continue in their current roles, while Quantum Pacific Group and Ares Management retain minority shares
- Atletico Madrid are currently fourth in La Liga after 12 matches, trailing leaders Real Madrid by six points
Majority Investment Signals New Era for Atletico
Apollo Global Management has become the principal shareholder of Spanish football giants Atletico Madrid following a high-profile acquisition. The move, confirmed after months of negotiations, assigns a valuation of around €2 billion to the Spanish club. Despite this significant change in ownership, both CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin and president Enrique Cerezo will continue to guide the club’s operations.
Quantum Pacific Group, which is controlled by Israel-British billionaire Idan Ofer, and Ares Management will remain as minority shareholders in the new ownership structure. The investment comes as part of Atletico’s ongoing efforts to bolster their financial strength and competitive standing in both domestic and European football.
“Apollo is a great ally that respects the history, traditions, and identity of Atletico and its fans,” Gil Marin has said of the announcement. “While the investment brings additional resources and enthusiasm to help maintain our growth and competitiveness.”
Robert Givone, partner at Apollo, said: “Miguel Angel has done an extraordinary job transforming Atlético, and it was essential for us to invest in support of the continuity of his leadership, as well as investing in the team and the local community.”
Jim Miller, co-head of Ares’ sports, media and entertainment strategy, said of the deal: “We are equally excited to remain minority investors and continue providing strategic support as the club builds on its momentum.”
Investment Background and Strategic Vision
Gil Marin recently emphasised his openness to further external investment, noting at the Business and Sport Forum in Madrid: “To get good results and keep the fans happy, you have to keep investing significant money in players and infrastructure.” He outlined how the club’s major investments, including previous deals with Wanda, Quantum Pacific, and Ares, have been essential for growth, suggesting that additional outside capital is vital for enhancing all aspects of the club, from player recruitment to supporter services.
He added, “We understand it is necessary so that the club can work better, with better players, infrastructure, services for fans. Football has to be much more than just the 90 minutes, and that is what this investment is for.”
Founded in 1990 by Josh Harris, Leon Black, and Marc Rowan, Apollo Global Management stands as a heavyweight in the investment world. By the end of 2024, Apollo ranked as the 28th largest asset management organisation globally, with assets under management totalling $751bn according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute. Josh Harris, who left Apollo in 2022, has continued to hold a six per cent stake in the company as of April 2024. Harris’s sports investment portfolio also includes significant ownership in Crystal Palace (Premier League), Washington Commanders (NFL), Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), and New Jersey Devils (NHL).
| Investor/Group | Role | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo Global Management | Majority Shareholder | Majority |
| Quantum Pacific Group (Idan Ofer) | Minority Shareholder | Minority |
| Ares Management | Minority Shareholder | Minority |
Infrastructure Developments and Sporting Outlook
In recent years, Gil Marin and Cerezo have turned to outside investors to fund major projects, initially to complete the Estadio Metropolitano and now to transform the area surrounding the stadium through the ambitious €800m ‘Sports City’ project. This development will incorporate a new training complex for head coach Diego Simeone’s team, as well as public facilities for golf, padel, skating, and the continent’s largest inland surfing centre.
The long-term objective for the leadership is to eventually divest their stakes, particularly once the value of the club has grown further with the completion of the Sports City initiative.
Atletico have also strengthened their management structure, most recently appointing ex-Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany last month, ensuring the club’s footballing operations remain progressive while infrastructure improvements continue apace.
Current Performance and League Standing
Atletico, holders of eleven La Liga titles, are presently occupying fourth place in the Spanish top flight after 12 rounds, six points behind current leaders Real Madrid. As the club seeks to recapture domestic dominance and make further progress in Europe, the new investment may provide the financial impetus needed to achieve these ambitions.
