Manchester United falling behind
Spanish clubs in 'money league'
• Deloitte publishes financial
report on the world's richest clubs
• Real Madrid top league with
Barcelona second and United third
9 February 2012
Manchester United are falling
behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in the 'money league' of the world's richest
clubs, according to a new report.
The report by the analysts
Deloitte says that, although United's revenues continue to grow, they have not
kept pace with the Spanish giants who have the advantage of being able to
negotiate their individual TV rights deals.
United's failure to qualify from
the group stage of the Champions League this season will see the gap widen
further next year, says Deloitte.
Real Madrid remain top of the
league with revenues in 2010-11 of €479 million (£438m), with Barcelona second
on €451m and Manchester United third on €367m (£349m).
The report states: "We are
starting to see widening gaps between clubs at the top of the Money League.
"Manchester United's
consistent on-pitch success has helped establish it as a continued fixture in
the top three of the Money League, yet in recent years a gap has grown between
themselves and the Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, rising again to
€83.7m in this year's edition.
"United's failure to qualify
for the 2011-12 Champions League knockout phase will have a detrimental effect
on revenues relative to the top two, which may result in this gap increasing to
over €100m.
"In addition, there is a
€70m gap between fourth-placed Bayern Munich and fifth-placed Arsenal."
Chelsea remain sixth in the money
league but Liverpool have fallen a place to ninth behind Internazionale and the
report states their lack of European football could see them drop out of the
top 10 unless they at least qualify for the Europa League.
"The club [Liverpool] needs
European football each year to maintain its status in the Money League top 10
in future editions," said the report.
"In the medium to longer
term the Warrior Sports kit deal will underpin further commercial revenue
growth, whilst formulating a viable plan to either redevelop Anfield or move to
a new home is key in driving matchday revenue increases."
Tottenham are 11th in the league,
just in front of Manchester City thanks to last season's Champions League
income, but the value of the huge Etihad sponsorship deal, which could total
£400m, should see City break into the top 10 next year.
Alan Switzer, a director of
Deloitte's sports business group, said: "The club's heavy squad investment
secured Champions League football for 2011-12. When combined with the
ground-breaking 10-year partnership with Etihad, this will provide substantial
growth across all three revenue sources and will see City break into the top 10
in the Money League next year."
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