Spanish Clubs Pulling Away From Man United

Manchester United have fallen further behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in Deloitte’s Football Money League, with the gap set to extend next year after the Premier League champions’ failure to qualify for the knockout stages of the Uefa Champions League.

Barcelona and Real Madrid’s ability to negotiate individual television rights deals worth far more than United receive under the Premier League’s model – one shared by Europe’s other major leagues – meant Madrid maintained first place on €479m (£438m) and Barcelona secured €451m £398m), with a significant gap to Manchester United on €367m (£349m).

Overall, the top 20 Money League clubs generated combined revenues of €4.4 billion in 2010/11, revealed Deloitte, comprising more than a quarter of all European football revenues.

A number of other Premier League clubs make the top 20. Arsenal sit fifth, €70m behind fourth-placed Bayern Munich, with Chelsea in sixth.

Liverpool sit in ninth place, having been overtaken by Internazionale, and with Deloitte warning that European football is essential at Anfield should the club wish to maintain its top ten position. ‘In the medium to longer term, the Warrior Sports kit deal will underpin further commercial revenue growth, whilst formulating a viable plan to either redevelop Anfield or move to a new home is key in driving matchday revenue increases,’ noted Deloitte.

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City sit just outside the top ten, with the latter likely to break into it next year following the signing of a huge sponsorship deal with Etihad and a first season of Uefa Champions League football – though, like United, City failed to qualify for the knockout stages.

‘There is an increasing focus within European football on achieving more sustainable levels of expenditure given UEFA’s financial fair play breakeven requirement,’ said Dan Jones, Lead Partner of the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

‘Some commentators may argue that regulating clubs’ expenditure relative to revenue may further concentrate on-pitch success amongst those clubs earning the most. Nonetheless, we believe disciplined and responsible governance structures and financial management within European football, whilst providing the platform for investment in facilities and youth development, should only be encouraged.’