Barcelona's revenue jumps 10% to €445.5 million

FC Barcelona's revenue surged by 10% to €445.5 million ($545 million) last season compared to 2008-09, boosted by rising income from marketing, player transfers and loans, and the sale of a plot of land.

There was, however, an 18% jump in spending to €429 million, largely due to cash paid out to players in wages and bonuses, which amounted to €305 million, the Spanish champions said on Wednesday.

Net profit for the period was €9 million and debt rose to €326 million.

Barcelona said they earned €121 million from marketing, €25 million from the sale or loan of players, and €15 million from the sale of a plot at Sant Joan Despi.

Real Madrid became the first team in any sport to post revenue in excess of €400 million in a single year in the 2008-09 season, according to an annual survey of the richest football clubs by accountancy firm Deloitte.

Deloitte uses its own formula for gauging a club's annual income based on day-to-day operations and excludes exceptional items like the one-off sale of assets.

Barca could outstrip their arch rivals on the firm's updated Money League, typically published about nine months after the end of the season.