Madrid City Council has approved a change to the rules for 448,000 square metres of Real Madrid’s training ground, allowing the club to use the land for new commercial and profitable projects. The amount of land Real Madrid can use for sporting facilities will fall to 89,000 m², four times less than before, while the land’s new value is estimated at around €360 million. This decision by Madrid City Council effectively increases the commercial value and development options of Real Madrid’s land, giving the club a major financial benefit.This is also not the first time Real Madrid have benefited from a major land deal. In 2001, the club sold and changed the use of its old training ground on Paseo de la Castellana, where the Cuatro Torres were later built. That deal helped Real Madrid develop its new training complex in Valdebebas.Many fans on SPANISH twitter have been outraged since the news came out from El Pais, calling Madrid the 'biggest state owned club' in the world. When a private football institution repeatedly receives political backing, planning changes and major increases in the commercial value of its land from public authorities, it is understandable why the “state club” label keeps coming back.The question isn't whether Madrid Innovation District can benefit the city. It might. The question is whether another private club would receive the same level of institutional support when hundreds of millions in potential private land value are involved.