Top 20 richest football clubs in the world: Manchester United poised to reclaim top spot but Real Madrid stay No1 for now
Manchester United are poised to reclaim the title of the world’s richest club – a status enjoyed by Real Madrid for the past 11 seasons – despite their turbulent recent on-field fortunes.
United have fallen one place to third in the latest Deloitte Football Money League – the annual ranking of the world’s top revenue-generating clubs, published today – behind Real and Barcelona.
The 20-time English champions, whose manager Louis van Gaal is currently under pressure amid another underwhelming campaign, suffered from missing out on lucrative Champions League participation in 2014-15.
But their return to Europe’s top club competition this term and the advent of a new £75m-a-year kit deal with Adidas means they are expected to overtake the Spanish juggernauts in Deloitte’s next list.
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“United look well-set to make it to No1,” Dan Jones, head of Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, told City PM
“The reason Manchester United is able to generate such huge revenues even when they’re having a bumpy time on the pitch for a year or two is because they’ve got 20 years of incredible success and a longer history of success before that. The gains are hard-won over a long period.”
United recorded revenue of €519.5m (£395.2m), down from €518m (£433.2m) in 2013-14 – well short of Real’s €577m (£439m) and Champions League winners Barcelona’s €560.8m (£426.5m).
Merely qualifying for the Champions League group stage is typically worth at least £30m to English clubs, who also benefit from guaranteed income of between £60m and £100m for Premier League participation.
“Despite a reduction in revenue year-on-year, the fact that United remain in the top three of the Money League demonstrates the underlying strength of the club’s business model,” added Deloitte’s Tim Bridge.
“The return to Champions League football, as well as the commencement of a number of significant commercial partnerships, will only strengthen the business in 2015-16.”
United are one of five English sides in the top 10 of this year’s Football Money League, along with local rivals Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, who again occupy positions six to nine.
Read more: All 20 Premier League teams set to make rich list top 30
Premier League teams’ extraordinary financial clout is reflected by the presence of nine representatives in the top 20 and 17 in the top 30 – record figures in the 19-year history of the list.
English clubs benefited from a 10 per cent strengthening of sterling against the Euro, while their advantage is only set to be increased by yet more lucrative television contracts which start next season.
Bayern Munich slipped two places to fifth, as revenue dipped slightly to €474m (£360.6m) despite winning the German title. French champions Paris Saint-Germain, who earned €480.8m (£365.8m) climbed to fourth.
United – currently lie fifth domestically and out of the Champions League after a group stage exit, should remain in the rich list top three even if their wait for a first Premier League title since 2013 continues.
“I think as long as they’re in the Champions League I don’t think they’re in any danger of being anywhere other than the top three,” Jones added. “If they were to be not in the Champions League and that was more than a one-off, then that top-three placing becomes vulnerable.”
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