Man United, Real Madrid are football’s most valuable clubs

LONDON — Accountancy firm KPMG says Manchester United and Real Madrid are football’s most valuable clubs, worth an estimated €2.9 billion (S$4.46 billion) each. The study finds Europe’s leading 32 clubs have a combined value that exceeds €26 billion.

KPMG’s report was published as the European season reaches its climax with tomorrow’s Champions League final between Real Madrid and crosstown rival Atletico Madrid, which is valued at €592 million.

United — who sacked Dutch manager Louis van Gaal just two days after winning the FA Cup last Saturday — remain strong financially, despite not winning the English Premier League in three years.

But the Red Devils have been warned that incoming manager Jose Mourinho will need to improve results if they want to remain top of the pile.

“To a certain extent Manchester United are on course to match Real Madrid thanks to the expected benefit they’d receive from the incoming £1.8 billion (S$3.64 billion) per season broadcast deal,” KPMG global head of sports Andrea Sartori told City AM. “Sporting success generates value for any club, providing it is properly managed.

“Real Madrid have been significantly more successful on the pitch than Manchester United in the past three years.

“They have played regularly in the final stages of the Champions League. Two years ago they won it, this year they’re in the final.

“United are going to miss the revenue that comes from qualifying for the Champions League next season.”

Behind Real and United in the rankings are Barcelona (€2.8 billion), Bayern Munich (€2.2 billion), Arsenal (€1.7 billion), Manchester City (€1.6 billion), Chelsea (€1.5 billion), Liverpool (€1.3 billion), Juventus (€983 million) and Paris Saint-Germain (€843 million).

Flushed with revenue from the broadcast deal, English Premier League clubs dominated the list, making up half of the top-10 clubs.

The Premier League’s best team this season, Leicester City, were not included in KPMG’s ranking because one of the selection criteria was performance in all-Europe competition.

Champions Leicester, who barely escaped relegation last year, have not qualified for a Uefa tournament since 2001. AGENCIES