Despite their much-documented travails and missing out on Europe’s big money this season, Manchester United are still more than capable of competing with the very best off the field.
The three-times European champions rose two places to second in the 2015 annual Deloitte Football Money League report published yesterday.
Neighbours Manchester City, who enjoyed considerably more on-field success as they retained the Premier League Trophy and also secured the League Cup last season, remained sixth.
Nonetheless City saw overall revenue rise from £271million to £346.5million, the largest growth of any club in the top ten of the report.
Real Madrid were top for the tenth consecutive year in the season where they won their tenth European title and finished with overall revenue standing at £459.5million, £26.3million ahead of the Red Devils.
The English Premier League clubs, largely buoyed by the record-breaking TV deal and escalating ticket prices were well represented in the report, with eight clubs making up the top 20 and almost half of the top 30 being English outfits.
As Louis van Gaal plots a return to Europe it is anticipated that the club can expect further significant increases next year, especially if the Dutchman attains a top four place.
“Their commercial growth… continues to yield record-breaking deals,” said a Deloitte spokesman of United.
“If the club can regain their Champions League status for the 2015/16 season, there is a strong possibility they will also regain top spot in our money league for that season.”
For City, the expansion of the Etihad Stadium and recent development of the impressive Etihad campus, aligned with on-going commercial development, will also see them confident that they can climb the ladder in 2016.
Full details of the report can be found here.
Main image courtesy of Jason Cairnduff/Action Images, with thanks.
