Exclusive | Rodrigo Rosso: "The monthly deficit stands at $300,000" | OneFootball

The treasurer of Club Atlético Unión gave an extensive interview on the ADN program on Radio Gol 96.7, where he detailed the club’s delicate financial situation. He explained the need for the “Club Day Bonus” for the Boca match, the conflict with Racing over Nardoni, and the million-dollar cost of maintaining a club with multiple disciplines.

In conversation with Darío Pignata, Rodrigo Rosso did not mince words when describing the current economic state of the “Tatengue.” The official acknowledged that the scenario is complex and that implementing the bonus for the upcoming match is a survival measure. “We have made the decision, we know it’s not a very popular measure, but well, it’s necessary for the club’s finances,” he said regarding the 20,000 peso charge that members will have to pay.

The “Club Day Bonus” and relief for families

Rosso justified the collection of the bonus for the Boca Juniors match as an indispensable resource for day-to-day operations. However, he emphasized that they sought to protect the youngest: “Members under 17 years old do not pay the bonus, they enter for free, understanding that families need some relief.”

Amid speculation about the destination of these funds, the treasurer clarified that they do not have a single purpose: “Many say this bonus is to lift the ban or pay salaries… it will be used to meet a lot of obligations the club has on a daily basis.”

A structural deficit and the weight of television

One of the most striking points of the interview was the revelation of the gap between income and expenses. Rosso explained that “today the monthly financial deficit is $300,000” and that modern football requires an expensive structure that includes medical staff, travel, and meals. He also pointed out that broadcast rights revenues have fallen behind: “Today with television you only pay 60% of the salaries… you have to cover the rest elsewhere.”

The urgency to sell and the conflict with Racing

To balance the books, Rosso was blunt in saying that “all clubs in Argentina balance their finances with sales… you absolutely have to sell,” estimating that Unión needs net income of between 3 and 3.5 million dollars annually.

In that context, he criticized the lack of transparency from Racing Club regarding the transfers of former Tatengue players: “In Nardoni’s case, we have absolutely no information at all.” Regarding ‘Rocky’ Balboa, he illustrated the difference between gross amounts and what actually reaches the club: “They informed us of one million dollars gross… net it’s 600 thousand. Unión, with a lot of luck, will get 120 thousand dollars.”

Capital investments vs. infrastructure projects

The treasurer highlighted the importance of purchasing the Casa Unión property, although he admitted its impact on other projects. “The investment in Casa Unión is 1,600,000 dollars that we have to pay… it requires us to redirect resources that were originally intended for one thing to another.” This caused projects like the upper tier of the Pujato stand to be postponed: “The matter of works is postponed for now, but we hope to be able to do it in the future.”

The club as a social and sports institution

Finally, Rosso defended the comprehensive management of the institution, beyond the results of the first team. “Today football is not like it used to be, where it was a coach with a whistle, four cones, and 10 balls… it’s much more complex.” He recalled that the club supports multiple activities that require a constant budget: “Unión opens its doors at 6 in the morning and closes at midnight with a multitude of disciplines that we have to support.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.