Western media: Louis Vuitton and Sixth Street boss hope to acquire a minority stake in Real Madrid to strengthen their partnership

According to Western media vozpopuli, the owners of Louis Vuitton and Sixth Street hope to acquire a minority stake in Real Madrid to strengthen their cooperative relationship with the Real Madrid club.

According to market sources, Bernard Arnault, the owner of Sixth Street and Louis Vuitton, is paying close attention to Real Madrid's possible move to bring in private investors. In addition, an unnamed major American entity has also expressed interest in strengthening its partnership with Real Madrid through the acquisition of a minority stake in the club's commercial entities. The potential investors have reportedly begun monitoring the reaction of club members and fans to assess the possible impact of any formal developments.

The actions of Sixth Street CEO Alan Waxman and Arnault echoed Florentino's accelerated pace of club reform. He hopes to ensure the club's future economic security by bringing in private capital and achieving a valuation of more than 10 billion euros. Currently, Real Madrid management is stepping up preparations to hold a special meeting in mid-December, which will start the countdown to a plan that has been in preparation for nearly two years.

The model considered by Real Madrid draws on successful cases in the European sports community, especially within the German framework, allowing private capital to enter while maintaining association control. One option is to open up gradually, first introducing minority shareholders who have no governance rights or ordinary dividend rights, but these shareholders will receive "economic interests" in the medium term, which may include returns on specific projects or gains in the appreciation of their shares. The approach is seen as a way to reduce internal resistance in preparation for a referendum expected to be held in 2026.

For Sixth Street, its strategic significance is that it has already occupied a favorable position by participating in the commercial operations of the Bernabeu Stadium, so that it can better evaluate the synergies and possible future returns. As for Arnault, he has become one of Real Madrid's global sponsors through Louis Vuitton, a subsidiary of the LVMH Group, and has been responsible for providing non-match apparel for the Real Madrid men's football, women's football and basketball teams since June this year. As a result, holding a small stake will further cement its brand's position among the most influential sports properties globally without assuming management responsibility or operational risk.

In addition to the existing sponsorship agreement and initial expressions of interest, it is worth noting that the Arnault family has also shown interest in the football industry many times in the past. Just a year ago, in November 2024, the Arnault family officially acquired a majority stake in the Paris FC club and cooperated with Red Bull.

Arnault currently holds 55% of the club's shares, while Red Bull holds 11%. It is expected that this proportion will rise to 80% and 15% respectively by 2027 after the current owner Pierre Ferracci exits. Coincidentally, Paris FC has a well-known rivalry with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), which is similar to Real Madrid.

Although the formal negotiation process has not yet started, the restricted equity package provides flexibility and options to both parties. This enables them to secure an entry window while studying exit mechanisms or assessing additional returns based on the development of corporate projects. At the same time, they are also paying close attention to the social, institutional and media environment, which are key factors to consider before making a final decision.

In this context, both Sixth Street and Arnault hope to participate in one of the most important clubs in the world with lower risks, while Real Madrid continues to carefully plan every step of the reform proposal, and if it is finally implemented, it will be submitted to the membership for a vote.