Price of United’s defeat nowhere near £15m

THE FINANCIAL impact of Manchester United’s failure to reach the last 16 of the Champions League has been “overstated”, according to an independent football analyst.

Simon Banks insists the cost in real terms to United of falling a round short of last year is between £2m and £2.5m, with the much-quoted £15m figure the amount on offer for going on to win the competition.

“It’s not a great deal to worry about compared to what their operating profits usually are, between £20-30million,” Banks said.