Man Utd drop down wealth league

zocoss SG

Manchester United have dropped from second to fourth in the list of the world's wealthiest clubs, trailing Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus. United headed Deloitte's Football Money League for eight years until being deposed by Real Madrid last year.

English clubs fill eight out of the top 20 spots in Deloitte's table, based on revenues generated during 2005/6. United remain the world's most profitable club, making a £49.7m profit in the year to June 2006.

Deloitte's figures take into account income from ticket sales, merchandising and broadcasting contracts but do not include transfer revenues and does not calculate profitability. Between them, the top 20 clubs had sales of more than £2.1bn.

Real Madrid retained its crown as the world's wealthiest club, in terms of sales, despite securing no silverware for the third consecutive year. Its revenues rose to £202m from £186.2m the year before.

Barcelona leapfrogged Manchester United into second place, boosted by their victory in the Champions League final, while Italian club Juventus moved up one spot to third.

United dropped into fourth place after its revenues rose from £166.4m to £167.8m. Deloitte said it believed this fall may only be temporary as further expansion of their Old Trafford ground should significantly boost the club's match day income.

"Manchester United may be in fourth position this year but with the completion of their stadium development we can expect them to move back up the list in 2006/07," said Deloitte's Paul Rawnsley.

Chelsea dropped a place to sixth despite their revenues rising to £152.8m while Arsenal, helped by their appearance in the Champions League final, jumped a place to ninth.

The other British clubs to make it into the list were Liverpool(10), Newcastle United(13), Tottenham Hotspur(15), Manchester City(17), Rangers(18 ) and West Ham(19).

With a lucrative new TV contract coming into effect next year, Deloitte said Premiership clubs could fill more than half of the list by 2007/8.

dragg SG

newcastle 13???

Shocked Shocked Shocked

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

juventus Laughing

turbo_drift SG

Good for juventus.. Laughing

sand king SG

How they get so much money? Laughing

T.Ryousuke SG

1 ticket 100 pound, wat you think?

Juve will suffer this yr.

used SG

Laughing

zocoss SG

United Poised To Catch Spanish Giants

Manchester United have been backed to challenge Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona for the title of richest club in the world by business advisory firm Deloitte.

The latest Deloitte Football Money League saw United slip two places to fourth in the table for the 2005/06 season based on annual financial statements and other direct sources. Although they were the highest-ranked of eight English clubs in the top 20, their annual revenue of £167.8million was some way short of first-placed Real (£202m) and runners-up Barcelona (£179.1m).

But according to Alan Switzer, a senior consultant for Deloitte, the gap could be set to narrow significantly. He said: "There's a couple of reasons why they've fallen down to fourth but it isn't so much their performance, it's more the [impressive] performances of their rivals. "Real Madrid and Barcelona are doing really well and growing some of their revenues and agreeing new deals. "But in the next couple of years the factors that will see them pushing back up there will be the new Premiership TV deal, the new AIG sponsorship deal - which is higher than their previous deal - and they'll also see the full benefits of the extensions at Old Trafford this year."

Deloitte director Paul Rawnsley agreed, pointing out that where the list is based on revenue and excludes transfer fees, value added tax and other sales-related taxes, Sir Alex Ferguson's side still make more profit than any other club. "Manchester United may be in fourth position this year, but with the completion of their stadium development we can expect them to move back up the list in 2006/07. "It is also notable that United remain the most profitable club football operation in the world."

Despite Spanish dominance at the top of the list, no other Primera Liga sides feature in the rankings whereas United are joined by fellow Premiership sides Chelsea (sixth), Arsenal (ninth), Liverpool (10th), Newcastle (13th), Tottenham (15th), Manchester City (17th) and West Ham (19). Italy provides four clubs, Germany has three and there is one club each from France and Portugal. Rangers, meanwhile, represent the Scottish Premier League in 18th place.

Television rights have become increasingly influential on the list and with a newly-agreed deal set to take effect in England next season, there could be an even greater accent on Premiership clubs in future money leagues. Switzer said: "The Premier League's recently concluded broadcasting deals may see English teams contribute half of the top 20 clubs in 2007-08."