BARCELONA: Barcelona generated a profit after tax of E32m for the 2012-13 season and expect to make a decision on the future of the Nou Camp by the end of the year.

The profit represents a E3m increase on initial projections and allows the Spanish champions to record a positive financial statement for the second consecutive year.

Barcelona signed off on record profits of E48.8m for the 2011-12 season following losses of E9.3m and E83m in the previous two campaigns.

Economic vice-president Javier Faus said Barcelona generated operating revenues of E491m in 2012-13, adding the club is “moderately satisfied” with the results. “For the first time in the history of the club we are getting a stabilisation between wages and sporting success,” he said.

“From the economic point of view, it is much more important to stabilise wage spending… maintained between E200m and E210m per year… than the cost of signings.”

Barcelona reduced the net debt by E3m to E331m in 2012-13, with Faus admitting that this figure would have stood at E284m without the headline summer signing of Brazilian superstar Neymar from Santos.

Barcelona’s total debt once stood at E420m three years ago. Faus said the club still aims to reduce its debt level to E200m by the 2015-16 financial year, adding that this is crucial if the club is to proceed with its stadium development plans.

In September, Barcelona’s members voted to approve the staging of a referendum to decide the future of its Nou Camp home, with the club stating this process will be staged in either the 2014-15 or 2015-16 season.

Faus believes Barcelona’s match day revenues could increase by up to E25m per year through moving to a new stadium or redeveloping the Nou Camp and the club hopes to make a solid announcement on the plans in the coming months.

“We have three proposals on the table, some more advanced than others but all with leading companies,” he said.

“The options are to build a new stadium on the current site, build a new stadium in another location or reform the current stadium. In any case, the plan needs to be feasible in the urban, technical and economic areas. We are looking to November or December to present some proposals.”

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