Investment cost analysis and UEFA FFP implications
Juventus FC’s official statement reports that the total fee for Ronaldo’s acquisition was EUR 117 million: EUR 100 million for the transfer fee (payable in two financial years), plus EUR 5 million to be paid out as FIFA solidarity payments, and EUR 12 million of additional charges owed to agent Jorge Mendes. The Portuguese superstar penned a 4-year deal, which makes the annual amortization of the transfer fee, spread over the duration of the contract, EUR 29.25 million. Finally, the Bianconeri committed to pay a reported net salary of EUR 30 million, resulting in a total gross annual wage cost borne by the club of approximately EUR 55-56 million. Looking at the latest available financial statement as of 30 June 2017, Ronaldo’s wage cost would represent around 21% of Juventus' total staff costs (EUR 262 million). Based on the previous calculations, the annual financial impact that the acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo will have on Juventus FC’s accounts is around EUR 85 million, or EUR 340 million over the 4-year contract period.
In order to be compliant with UEFA FFP Regulations, Juventus FC need to abide by some specific rules. One of the most stringent ones is the “break-even” rule, which requires them to report a maximum accumulated loss of EUR 30 million over the course of the three latest financial years. As mentioned above, Ronaldo’s acquisition certainly represents a heavy burden to the income statement of Juventus FC, something that could jeopardize the respect of such a requirement. However, the club can count on a positive net result of EUR 42 million registered in the 2016/17 season, less the likely loss of 2017/18, to mitigate the effects of Cristiano Ronaldo’s acquisition over the net result of the 2018/19 season, the first one in which such effects will be visible. In addition to that, according to a new UEFA FFP requirement, clubs need to register a maximum negative balance of EUR 100 million between acquisitions and disposals of players in a specific season. This is why there is an expectation that Juventus FC sell one or two players in order to meet such requirement