English clubs muscle in on the money league

Manchester United have been predicted to return to the top of football’s ’Money League’ for the first time in 12 years as English clubs increase their financial stranglehold on the game in Europe.

United’s return to the top of the Deloitte’s money league has been forecast despite the club dropping into third place in the latest rankings behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, mainly due to last’s season Champions League absence.However United’s return to Europe’s elite club competition and the impact of a huge new adidas sponsorship deal should see United take over at the top of from the Spanish giants for the first time since 2004.

English clubs dominate the top 30 of the world’s richest clubs – no fewer than 17 of the 20 Premier League clubs are ranked in the top 30 — and their position will become even stronger from from next season when the huge new Premier League TV deals — expected to top £8 billion (€10.3 billion) over three years – come on stream.

On a European level, Italian clubs’ financial struggles are continuing. Inter Milan have almost dropped out of the top 20 and are set to be overtaken by the likes of Leicester City and Southampton in future years.

Real Madrid have topped the latest list, based on revenue from the 2014/15 season, for the 11th year in a row, with Barcelona leapfrogging United into second spot. Bayern Munich have fallen to fifth, their lowest since 2006/07.

Tim Bridge, senior manager at Deloitte, said: “Despite a reduction in revenue year-on-year, the fact that Manchester United remain in the top three of the money league demonstrates the underlying strength of the club’s business model.

“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.

“With this in mind, it would not be surprising to see United top next year’s Money League for the first time in 12 years, with the club forecasting revenues of around £500m.”

In the latest rankings, Arsenal have gone above Chelsea into seventh, one behind Manchester City while Liverpool are the other Premier League club in the top 10, in ninth spot.

Revenue in millions of euros):

1 Real Madrid (€577m), 2 Barcelona (€560.8m), 3 Man Utd (€519.5m), 4 Paris St Germain (€480.8m), 5 Bayern Munich (€474m), 6 Man City (€463.5m, 7 Arsenal (€435.5m), 8 Chelsea (€420m), 9 Liverpool (€391.8m) 10 Juventus (€323.9m)..