"Manchester United have been named as the world's "most valuable" football club for the fourth consecutive year by Forbes magazine, who calculate the club's worth at US$1.8 billion, more than Spain's Real Madrid, who are second wealthiest according to the US business magazine."

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=679353

So man u worth 2 Milans

What a cr@p!

Thats an interesting article, Arsenal apparently make $6m per game!!!!! No wonder the tickets for the CL game against Milan were so expensive!

Sooner or later I can see the prem crash as it's greed knows no boundaries and people will just not be able to afford it. Serie A might be behind the prem but at least it's accessible to the working man with a family

I'd take no notice, these things are very subjective. How exactly do they define how much a team is worth.

That's because all of Arsenal's games are sold out. To the death. They have the highest attendance record in the EPL, and that's saying something. I even read they had well over 98% season tickets sold this year. While for us, it's something around 30-40%. No wonder they make so much.

Like they say, London is London.


Well they factor in the squad for one, the club share prices if they have any, a worth of the stadium (which for us is owned by the city of Milan) and the infrastructure. Plus the running finances, cash at hand, how much the team makes from ticket sales and shirt sales etc, debt, and any future player assets (like Pato, and other young ones who could have their price tags inflated). Not to mention the sponsor deals a club has for now and the future. And even performance in the leagues and tournaments the club participates in for the last few years.

Rest assured it's pretty complicated.

I'm pretty sure Uniteds is higher. Uniteds stadium is around 15,000 bigger and they sell out every game, so they're going to be well ahead of everyone else in terms of ticket sales.

It sounds it.

Maybe fish & chips at Emirates is a lot more expensive than prawn sandwiches at Old Trafford, Kurt.

I'm pretty sure Arsenal sells out every single game. Every. That's because before our games with Arsenal, I spied on some of Arsenal forums to gather intelligence. I read an article from a pretty credible source that said they have the best record in attendance for some years running (touching a 100%). Maybe Locke can confirm that. Having said that, it doesn't mean United is anywhere near bad - even a 99.2% is no slouch, just ask any team from any other league. Of course, having a 15,000 bigger stadium means it's slightly tougher to get a full house every time, than say on a smaller capacity stadium.

And oh, I'm positive Manchester makes even more than 6 millions a match that Arsenal does. The 6 million consists of ticket sales, merchandise and television rights, as well as the money they get from the sponsors. And oh, you can't count out the sales of fish and chips as Tennie mentioned below. Considering a club like Arsenal plays around 50 or more games a year it adds up. Then again big clubs have big expenses.

Good thing I used to play FIFA Manager 07 in the summer when I had time on my hand. Sure does come in handy.


Lol. Never been a Fish & Chips guy, Ten. Deep friend chicken with fries is what turns me on.

It's called speculation

I think United sell every ticket for every league game that's available. The only reason all United attendances aren't all the same is because smaller away teams with poor support (Bolton, Wigan, Boro, etc.) don't take up their allocation. Also for big games (Citeh, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal) they have to have extra spaces between the sets of fans to make sure theres no trouble. United will always sell out their home areas as they have waitings lists that last years.

But I don't know what stadium is most filled (As a %) this season.

Arsenal. Or so I've read. But the thing is that stadiums in EPL are filled at optimum capacity most of the matches, unlike those in say Serie A. Attendance is Italy is quite low by any standards.

“But we cannot afford not to keep our wage structure. We have a £360m debt and we have to respect the structure or we will go bust.” ... thats a lot worse than what was originally said.

why spend big when you can spend little and still have the big dept

I personally am a huge fan of the way Arsenal have conducted their transfers under Wenger. As far as I am aware they have no debts in terms of transfers - only the stadium - as they only spend what the earn, which is what football should be in my opinion.

Let's look at the debts of the top four of the EPL

Manu had a £500m debt, Liverfool have a £400m debt(I think), chelsea have a debt of nearly £200m(I think) and now Arsenal have a debt of £360m

Those are of the top of my head.

If their respective owners decide enough is enough the prem would fall apart.

There would be other cuckoos willin to step in and provide the funding. It would have to be something else. Like a massive loss of credibility or something, which I don't see happening.

And I would say Arsenal are the safest of the bunch. And Wenger's policy while good, still has a few holes in it. He cannot ignore, that his defence is iffy, and that Gallas is not leader. And you just don't put in CBs, and hope they get better with time.

He'll have to splurge for a CB, and maybe a striker. I'm guessing he'll just put Gilberto where Flamini left off, and he's already got Denilson etc waiting.

If it were up to me, I'd spend 40 mill, bring in one HUGE centre back and Benzema for Arsenal. I would think they'd be covered with that. I might even sell Gallas. As a captain and marshal of the defence, he's failed in his duty.

@Locke: Dude...wat's the verdict on Walcott? Flop or late bloomer? And, would you be able to save on the centre back by blooding in Djorou? Is he really any good?