Man Utd see off Barca and Real Madrid to top football clubs rich list

They may be struggling to rediscover past glories on the pitch - but Manchester United are back on top of football’s money league for the first time in 12 years. United pipped Real Madrid and Barcelona - but experts are predicting the pound’s fall against the euro could see them fall behind the Spanish giants again next year. The Old Trafford club got a boost from record-breaking kit and sponsorship deals with Adidas and Chevrolet and a return to the Champions League during the otherwise underwhelming reign of Dutch manager Louis van Gaal.

You can’t really look past Manchester United returning to the top spot and it isbecause of their ability to make commercial deals that are way ahead of their peers.

Report author Tim Bridge

The Deloitte study is in its 20th year and this year’s top three is the same as in the first edition in 1997. More English sides are expected to break into the higher echelons from next year - when the Premier League’s £5bn domestic TV deal is taken into account. Figures in this year’s report were based on an average exchange rate of £1 = €1.34 but the current inter-bank rate is £1 = €1.15. UEFA last week warned that elite clubs were pulling further away from smaller rivals financially.

Sports