This Saturday marks the highly anticipated Madrid derby.
The Madrid derby is one of European football’s premier rivalries, featuring Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid in a fierce contest for dominance in the Spanish capital. Historically, this rivalry has been quite lopsided, with Real Madrid claiming victory in 123 out of 240 encounters since their first match in 1927. While Atlético has often played second fiddle to their illustrious rivals, Real Madrid stands as the most decorated club globally, boasting an impressive 15 European Cup/Champions League titles.
Under the management of Diego Simeone, Atlético closed the gap significantly, famously clinching their first LaLiga title in 19 years in 2014. That same year, both clubs made history by becoming the first from the same city to face off in a Champions League final, with Real Madrid securing their 10th title. They encountered each other again in the 2016 final, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side victorious once more. Recently, however, Real Madrid has extended the gap, and as we approach this weekend’s derby, we examine the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs through the lens of Transfermarkt’s market values.
The Rising Value of Real Madrid’s Squad Compared to Atlético Madrid
Real Madrid’s recent success in the derby is mirrored by Atlético’s struggle, with only four wins in the last 20 encounters. This is also evident in their squad valuations. Currently, Real Madrid boasts the world’s most valuable squad at €1.4 billion, while Atlético is ranked 13th at €630 million. Xabi Alonso’s squad is valued more than double that of Simeone’s, with a staggering €770 million difference. The graphic below showcases how the market values of the two clubs have diverged over the past six seasons.
Atlético last lifted the trophy in 2021, when Simeone’s squad was valued higher than Ancelotti’s for the one and only time in this period. However, since the beginning of the 2021/22 season, Real Madrid’s squad value has surged while Atlético’s has decreased. Several factors contribute to this trend, including Atlético’s aging players and Real Madrid’s investments in younger talent, leading to increased valuations. Atlético’s squad value dipped to as low as €390 million in June 2024 but regained some strength this summer. Real Madrid’s squad, currently at an all-time high, includes nine players valued over €50 million, with Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham leading the pack at €180 million. In comparison, Atlético has just three players valued similarly, further emphasizing the disparity between the two teams.
