Manchester United remain the most valuable football team
in the world, according to Forbes business magazine. The annual
list ranks United above Real Madrid with Arsenal leapfrogging AC
Milan into third spot and Chelsea in eighth
position.
Salvatore Galatioto, president of the sports banking firm Galatioto
Sports Partners, said China remains the key area for future growth.
He said: 'A big reason why these teams are attracting suitors is
their growth potential in all of Asia, but China is the key. 'You
have great brands with these soccer teams that have not been fully
exploited.'
Team valuations in pounds
sterling according to Forbes:
1 Man Utd £740million
2 Real Madrid £528million
3 Arsenal £466million
4 Bayern Munich £427million
5 AC Milan £420million
6 Juventus £289million
7 Inter Milan £282million
8 Chelsea £274million
9 Barcelona £273million
10 Schalke 04 £240million
11 Liverpool £231million
12 Lyon £175million
13 Newcastle £132million
14 Tottenham £124million
15 Roma £114million
16 Hamburg £112million
17 Man City £106million
18 B Dortmund £101million
19 Ajax £100million
20 Celtic £94million
21 Everton £84million
22 Marseille £80million
23 West Ham £79million
24 Rangers £75million
25 Aston Villa £71m
Meanwhile, David Beckham has lost top spot to Ronaldinho as the
world's highest-earning footballer. Forbes say Beckham's lucrative
move to Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of the season could see the
former England captain recapture his position as football's highest
earner.
Highest-earning players,
according to Forbes
1 Ronaldinho (Barcelona) £15.2million
2 David Beckham (Real Madrid) £14.8million
3 Ronaldo (AC Milan) £11.7million
4 Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) £8.7million
5 Michael Ballack (Chelsea) £8.7million
6 Thierry Henry (Arsenal) £8.2million
7 Zinedine Zidane (ex-Real Madrid) £8.2million
8 Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid) £7.6million
9 John Terry (Chelsea) £7.1million
10 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) £7.1million
