Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross Considers Buying Atletico Madrid

Stephen M. Ross, the owner of the Miami Dolphins, is interested in the purchase of Spanish soccer club Atlético Madrid, according to reports from Jugones, on La Sexta.

On Jugones, Josep Pedrerol reported that there had already been contact between the two parties as Atlético Madrid begin the process of selling the club. It comes 18 months after the club’s current owner, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín reflected that, “one day, someone will take over”.

Ross owns 95% of the Dolphins and their stadium, acquiring them in two separate deals in 2008 and 2009 which were worth a total of $1.1 billion. Now, he is believed to be turning his attentions to Spain and soccer.

If the deal is completed, which is uncertain as the sale still seems to be at the early stages, then Ross would become the first foreign owner of the club and only the second since the club was owned entirely by its fans.

Atlético are the third-biggest team in Spain, ranking behind the Clásico duo of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Founded in 1903, the club has won the LALIGA title 11 times, most recently in 2021. In addition, they have 10 Copa del Rey titles, and three Europa League trophies. That has built them a reputation of one of the major forces in European soccer.

Their coach, Diego Simeone, played for the club and has now been on the sidelines for over a decade. Many within Spanish soccer have applauded the club’s management for their consistency and stability in sticking with the man who is considered the greatest coach in their history.

Atlético Madrid’s current ownership situation

The club is currently valued at 328 million euros ($353 million) by Forbes, making it one of the most valuable sporting teams in Spain. At present, the majority stake in the club is currently held by Atlético HoldCo. (70.42 %), while other owners include Idan Ofer (27.8 %) and a symbolic share held by club members (under 1%).

Atlético HoldCo. is formed primarily by the club’s two biggest shareholders. One is Miguel Ángel Gil Marín with 46.7% of shares, including 43.7% in the name of Holding de Inversiones Atléticas SA, and the other is Enrique Cerezo, who owns 15.2%, with 12.6% held by Videomercury Films.

Gil Marín, son of the controversial Spanish businessman Jesús Gil y Gil, is also a Vice President of LALIGA. He has been the visible face of the club’s leadership since assuming the largest stake in the organization, alongside the club’s president, Cerezo.

He is among Spain’s richest businessmen, ranking number 92 in the 2023 Forbes Rich List with an estimated value of 350 million euros ($376 million).

There have been several indications that a sale could take place in recent months, with Cerezo telling ABC in May that “if anyone’s interested in making an offer for Atlético, we’ll listen”.

It is expected that any sale will include the club’s sporting city project, which aims to build a new training ground facility and public space alongside the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano on the outskirts of Madrid. The project currently has an expected completion date of 2026 and has been led by Gil Marín and Cerezo within the club.