Así ROBARON el ATLÉTICO de MADRID (y no pasó nada)

The Great Heist of Atlético de Madrid

Introduction to Jesús Hil Hill

• Jesús Hil Hill, born in 1933 in Soria, founded his own development company after studying economics.

• His first major project was a housing complex in Segovia, which led to disaster when a restaurant collapsed, killing 58 people due to poor construction and lack of permits.

Legal Troubles and Indulgence

• Hil was sentenced to five years in prison but served only 18 months before being pardoned by Francisco Franco for his entrepreneurial spirit.

• After his release, he moved south to Marbella during the urban boom, gaining fame among politicians and bankers.

Rise to Power at Atlético de Madrid

• Following the death of Vicente Calderón in 1987, elections were held for the presidency of Atlético de Madrid.

• Hil secured votes by promising star player Paulo Futre would join the team if he won; this tactic successfully propelled him into power.

Achievements and Financial Crisis

• Under Hil's leadership, Atlético won a league title and three Copa del Rey trophies but faced financial turmoil due to new sports laws requiring clubs to become public limited companies.

• The club needed 2060 million pesetas or risked relegation; they managed only 200 million from members.

The Controversial Loans

• On June 30, 1992, just before the deadline, Hil and vice president Enrique Cerezo took out loans totaling 1950 million pesetas from banks.

• They reported having sufficient funds thanks to these loans but secretly repaid them shortly after without informing the government.

Ownership Manipulation

• As a result of their actions, Jesús Hil ended up owning 86% of Atlético’s shares while putting no personal investment into it.

• This manipulation led to an investigation seven years later when members accused them of misappropriation.

Legal Outcomes and Political Connections

• In 2004, Spain's Supreme Court confirmed that Hil and associates committed fraud but ruled it had prescribed due to time limits on prosecution.

• The case highlighted political connections that shielded them from consequences; notably, Hil passed away shortly before the ruling.

The Financial Turmoil of Atlético de Madrid

Transition of Power and Ownership

• Discussion on the legacy of Michael Jackson and Melendy, juxtaposed with the financial mismanagement at Atlético de Madrid.

• Following a Supreme Court ruling, there were protests outside the stadium; however, they lacked significant turnout, leading to public resignation regarding club ownership issues.

• Miguel Ángel Gil Marín's drastic reduction in ownership from 65% to 10%, selling shares to an American fund that now holds 55% of the club.

Financial Gains Amidst Debt

• Despite losing majority control, Gil Marín profited approximately €13 million from the sale while retaining his position as CEO with a substantial salary of €200,000 per month.

• Enrique Cerezo continues as president with a 3% stake in the club and earns around €91,000 monthly, highlighting ongoing financial benefits for key figures despite broader financial struggles.