Barcelona Has its Spending Limit Increased but Remains Well Below Real Madrid's Cap

Pedestrians walk on the Gran Via street in downtown Madrid, as a thermometer reads 35 degrees Celsius, on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Pedestrians walk on the Gran Via street in downtown Madrid, as a thermometer reads 35 degrees Celsius, on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
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Barcelona Has its Spending Limit Increased but Remains Well Below Real Madrid's Cap

Pedestrians walk on the Gran Via street in downtown Madrid, as a thermometer reads 35 degrees Celsius, on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Pedestrians walk on the Gran Via street in downtown Madrid, as a thermometer reads 35 degrees Celsius, on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)

Real Madrid remains with the Spanish league's highest spending limit following the summer transfer window, while Barcelona improved significantly but remained well below its rival's cap, The Associated Press reported.
The league released the cost limits for each team on Thursday, with Madrid's cap reaching nearly 755 million euros ($833 million), up from 727 million euros ($803 million).
Barcelona's limit more than doubled from 204 million euros ($225 million) after the winter transfer market to 426 million euros ($470 million), but the Catalan club could still be in a delicate situation going into the next transfer window if it doesn't make moves to improve its finances.
Atletico Madrid is the Spanish club with the third-highest spending limit at 310 million euros ($342 million), up from 303 million euros ($334 million).
Sevilla was among the teams struggling the most, with its limit being reduced from more than 150 million euros ($165 million) to only 2.5 million euros ($2.7 million).
The cost limit represents the maximum amount each club can spend on players, coaches and other staff. It also includes spending on reserves, the youth system and other areas.
Each Spanish league club has a different spending limit based on factors such as revenues, costs and debts. It is proportional to roughly 70% of a club’s revenues. Clubs that are overspending need to find ways to either reduce costs or attract new investment.



Zelenskiy Lauds Champion Usyk’s Perseverance in Victory over Fury in Riyadh

 Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)
Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)
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Zelenskiy Lauds Champion Usyk’s Perseverance in Victory over Fury in Riyadh

 Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)
Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed Oleksandr Usyk's victory over Tyson Fury to retain the WBA (Super), WBO and WBC world heavyweight titles in Riyadh, saying the boxer embodied the fighting spirit of Ukrainians.

Undefeated Usyk, who took Fury's WBC belt in their first bout in May, beat the British two-time world champion in the rematch by unanimous decision, handing him the second loss of his professional career.

"Victory! So important and so needed by all of us right now," Zelenskiy, who had led Ukraine in its war with Russia since Moscow invaded its neighbor in 2022, wrote on X.

"By defending his championship belt, Oleksandr Usyk proves: we are Ukrainians and we will not give up what is ours! No matter how hard it gets - we will overcome everything.

"Whether it is in the ring, on the battlefield or in the diplomatic arena - we will fight and we will not give up what is ours! Congratulations on your victory, Cossack! Congratulations on your victory, Ukraine!"

Former world champion Wladimir Klitschko, who enlisted in the Ukrainian military reserves before Russia's invasion, was at the Kingdom Arena to witness Usyk's victory.

"Ukraine is fortunate to have you. You're a true standard-bearer of our resilience... glory to Ukraine," Klitschko wrote on X.