FC Barcelona said on Tuesday that the club's revenue is "projected to rise" to €509 ($680M) this season, according to Braden Phillips of REUTERS. The projection makes Barcelona "only the second [team] to cross the half-billion threshold after arch rivals Real Madrid." Barcelona spokesperson Toni Freixa said that the team's '13-14 income will be "boosted by extra cash from sponsorship deals, as well as the sale of Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich." Freixa added that Barcelona is "targeting a post-tax profit" of €36M ($48M). Freixa: "This is not a message of triumph, since it is still difficult to manage the club and we have to continue the policy of austerity" (REUTERS, 9/17). In Barcelona, Marcos López reported Barcelona also announced the construction of "two pavilions in the sporting city" for €5.2M ($6.9M). Freixa said that "they are expected to be completed by Nov. '14." Freixa also denied that Real Madrid's recent contract extension with Cristiano Ronaldo would influence how Barcelona renews the contracts of Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi. Freixa: "We do not make our decisions based on what other clubs do" (EL PERIODICO, 9/17).
