Madrid Pip United On Rich List


Real Madrid have predictably topped the list of the Deloitte's Football Money League for 2006/7, a list of the wealthiest football clubs in terms of revenue...


Madrid have retained their top spot for a third year in the row, while Manchester United have jumped up from fourth to second.

United had previously led the list but were overthrown by the Spanish giants three years ago, who have not relinquished their spot since.

Chelsea, despite their regular losses, are in fourth. Italian giants Juventus, previously third, fell out of the top ten entirely following Calciopoli and their imposed relegation. Another Italian side in Roma have replaced them, with Spalletti's men holding the tenth spot.

The list further demonstratates the monopoly the big leagues have on the game from a financial point of view as well as on the pitch, with German giants Bayern Munich in seventh place being the only representative not from England, Spain or Italy.

The figures are based on income from ticket sales, merchandising, broadcasting and more, but are not based on profitability nor do they include money made in the transfer market.

Real Madrid's title win under Fabio Capello last season was enough to secure their number one spot, but Manchester United doing likewise and going all the way to the semi-finals in the Champions League has put them in sight of the nine time European Cup winners, something third place Barcelona cannot lay claim to as they are too far off the pace at the moment.

Manchester United could well overtake Real, largely due to new TV deals - something that has given English football's finances as a whole a major boost since Sky TV's coverage of the Premier League began well over a decade ago.

"With the new Premier League television deals now online for the 2007/08 season, Manchester United have the opportunity to significantly close the gap on Real," said Dan Jones of the Deloitte sports business group.

"A successful Champions League run may even see them challenge again for the number one position."

With the Emirates Stadium increasing Arsenal's revenue and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's bottomless pit of billions propelling the London clubs to dizzy heights in the table, it is the first time in its history three English clubs have occupied the top five.

Harry Philp - the director of sports finance and advisory firm Hermes Sports Partners - has shed some light on a few of the reasons certain clubs line up where they do in the list.

"The top seven or eight clubs tend to usually be the same, and generally drawn from the big English, Spanish and Italian clubs," he said.

"Real Madrid will have been helped by the very lucrative TV deal that they have, and the fact that their stadium is pretty much sold out for every game.

"Manchester United have been helped by their success on the field but also by ticket price increases, and they have also done a lot of renegotiation of much of its financial arrangements.

"Arsenal have clearly benefited from the move to the Emirates."

Here is the list in full:

1) Real Madrid: £236.2m
2) Man Utd: £212.1m
3) Barcelona: £195.3m
4) Chelsea: £190.5m
5) Arsenal: £177.6m
6) AC Milan: £153m
7) Bayern Munich: £150.3m
8) Liverpool: £133.9m
9) Inter Milan: £131.3m
10) AS Roma: £106.1m

Sulmaan Ahmad, Goal.com

It was to be expected. The difference is down to:

1. TV earnings
2. Jersey/Merchandise sales
3. Ticket sales.

lets donate enough money from all d milanfans to get a wig for Adriano Galliani maybe with d change we can buy emerson a new head

you mean buy galliani a wig and a new head.

I like Galliani's hairdo. He looks like Hitman..Agent 47.

i dont think he has much choice