Real Madrid take second place in Deloitte’s football money league, with FC Barcelona completing the top three. The firm says it now takes revenue of almost €200m to be guaranteed a place in the top 20, almost double the amount required in the 2010 edition. Unsurprisingly, broadcast revenue is now the largest individual revenue stream, making up 45% of total revenue for the elite clubs.  

The firm says Manchester United’s victory over Ajax in last season’s UEFA Europa League final was the critical factor as the club received €44.5m in payments from UEFA. This is over four times more than Atlético de Madrid received in 2011/12 for winning the same competition, as UEFA has made concerted efforts to make the Europa League more rewarding.

Dan Jones, partner in the sports business group at Deloitte, said: ‘United’s ability to retain first position is all the more impressive against the backdrop of the weakened pound against the euro, and with both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona forecasting further revenue growth in 2017/18, the battle at the top will likely come down to on-pitch performance again next year.

‘With all three clubs through to the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, it may be as simple as the club that goes furthest in the competition will have the best chance of topping the money league next year.’

The English Premier League has ten teams in the top 20 this year, the most ever from one country, while there are three clubs from Germany, three from Spain, three from Italy and one from France.  Arsenal climbed above Paris Saint-Germain into sixth and Tottenham Hotspur rose one place to eleventh. Chelsea and Liverpool remain in eighth and ninth respectively with West Ham United in 17th and Everton in 20th.

The English clubs generated a total revenue of €3.8bn, helped by the fact that 2016/17 was the first season of the current record Premier League broadcast rights deal.

Report by Pat Sweet