Manchester United the world's highest earning football club

  • 24/01/2018
The Red Devils topped Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Red Devils topped Real Madrid and Barcelona. Photo credit: Getty

Manchester United have maintained their position as the world's leading soccer club for revenue generation.

The 21st edition of the Deloitte Football Money League shows United edging Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid, who move above Barcelona.

Bayern Munich and Manchester City make up the top five, with the top 10 completed by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Liverpool and Juventus.

United generated total revenue of 676 million euros (NZ$1.05 billion), just 1.7 million euros (NZ$2.6 million) ahead of Real Madrid.

United's win in the Europa League final was "critical in the club topping our list for a 10th time," accountancy firm Deloitte said.

"Real Madrid moved back above FC Barcelona into second place thanks to strong commercial growth in 2016/17 and a title winning season in both domestic and European competitions."

A place in the top 20 now needs revenue of about 200 million euros (NZ@304 million), a 16 per cent increase on last year and double the amount required in the 2010 edition of the Money League, Deloitte said.

The English Premier League has 10 teams in the top 20 this year, the highest ever from one country.

DPA