Javier Tebas, the La Liga chief, criticized the Premier League after Spanish teams eliminated English clubs across the board, claiming that they spend their money more efficiently.
On 19 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Javier Tebas, La Liga's president, clearly stated that Spanish clubs "get better value for their money" than those in the Premier League, following the Champions League round of 16 where Spanish teams knocked out nearly all English clubs.
Reviewing the defeats: Real Madrid beat Manchester City with an aggregate score of 5-1; Barcelona crushed Newcastle 8-3; and Atlético Madrid narrowly defeated Tottenham 7-5. Although six Premier League teams reached this stage, only Arsenal and Liverpool advanced to the quarterfinals, while Spain had three teams progress.
Tebas said, "There are many examples, like Anthony, for whom Manchester United paid €95 million, but his value changed significantly once he joined Real Betis."
"Many players have moved to the Premier League only to return and play in Spain later. I believe we do spend money more efficiently."
Regarding financial figures for the 2024-25 season, La Liga achieved record total revenue of €5.464 billion, an 8.1% increase, showcasing its strength in youth development. The value of homegrown players in the league surged to €1.46 billion, surpassing the Premier League's €1.076 billion.
In conclusion, Tebas warned that the Premier League's spending model is creating a "debt bubble" that could burst in the long term without clear financial controls.
"I worry that spending controls are not being properly enforced, and management lacks clear financial rationale. It's a concerning model because it leads to losses, and clubs only survive if they qualify for European competitions. Eventually, this will become a debt bubble."