A luxury hotel bill in London has highlighted the disparity between the spending of the former Qatari ownership and the current economic reality of Málaga CF. Nasser Al-Thani, son of the Qatari sheikh, left a debt of around €532,000 after a stay of over a year at The Dorchester Hotel, a figure that is double the salary of several players in the white-and-blue squad.
A court resolution in London allowed the hotel to seize Nasser's Fiat 500 Abarth Tributo Ferrari in an attempt to recover part of the debt, valued at around £23,500 on the second-hand market. However, the sale of the vehicle would barely cover a small portion of the £458,000 claimed by the establishment. This episode is part of a fiscal report that was particularly harsh on Nasser and his millionaire whims, accusing him of several crimes in the club's Martiricos area.
A stark contrast with the club's reality
As these details emerge, Málaga CF is preparing for its next home match against Athletic Club on November 29th. The team is going through a tough spell in the competition, with a run of five matchdays without a win that includes three draws and two defeats.
This sporting situation contrasts sharply with the past extravagance. The Qatari family lived off Málaga's money for over a decade. Today, the club has the second-lowest wage budget in La Liga and the penultimate salary cap limit in the competition, where the minimum seasonal salary is €200,000. Nasser's hotel debt, therefore, amounts to more than double the annual remuneration of several players in the squad.
Manager Vicente Moreno and his staff are working to reverse the trend in results. The squad, which you can review in detail on the squad page, is looking to get back on track after the last goalless draw against Levante on September 6th. The focus now is on daily work and moving past episodes from a history that still echoes in the club's present economic situation.
