United drop out of top three in football rich list
MANCHESTER United have lost their status as one of the world’s three richest clubs, according to research published today.
Despite growing revenue by 13 per cent to £363m in 2012-13, the English champions fell behind Bayern Munich due to the German club’s treble-winning success.
Real Madrid remain top of Deloitte’s Football Money League for a record ninth successive season, with domestic rivals Barcelona second again.
United’s drop is the latest setback in a difficult season, and the possibility of missing out on next year’s Champions League threatens to dent income.
But the report’s authors believe lucrative new commercial and broadcast deals will secure their place in the top five for the forseeable future.
“If anyone can absorb the hit, they can,” Deloitte’s Dan Jones told City A.M. “The gap from four to six is €110m, but the impact of Champions League non-qualification is €50m. With more growth to come for United, we’re not expecting them to drop out of the top five.”
Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City, in sixth, are now England’s second richest club, overtaking Chelsea and Arsenal, while Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain have surged into the top five due to rocketing commercial income.