United valued as world's biggest by Forbes

April 22, 2010

Manchester United have been valued as the biggest football club in the world.

Despite a turbulent year for British clubs, the Old Trafford side held on to top spot in Forbes Magazine's list of the world's 20 most valuable football teams.

Six of the 20 teams featuring in the table heralded from England - despite the Premier League being the most indebted in Europe, according to governing body Uefa.

United, who have now topped the table for six years, were valued by Forbes at 1.835 billion US dollars (£1.19 billion) after a two per cent fall from last year.

Newcastle United, which was rated as 20th most valuable, was a surprise inclusion after being relegated last year.

Arsenal came third, ahead of Liverpool in sixth, Chelsea in ninth and Tottenham Hotspur at 12th. Big-spending Manchester City trailed in 19th place.

Real Madrid were forced to settle for second place - despite signing Cristiano Ronaldo from United last summer.

Meanwhile, fans opposed to the Glazer family's ownership of United are convinced the controversial Americans will eventually sell up to the Red Knights.

Key talks are currently taking place with a range of potential investors aimed at securing the funds required to lodge a bid in excess of £1billion at the end of the season.

Yet the suspicion remains that the Glazers have no interest in selling, something they have repeated privately on a number of occasions.

"If I was in the Glazers' position and I was offered a profit, with all the different factors that are creating uncertainty for the future, it would seem like a pretty sensible option to take," said Duncan Drasdo, chairman of the Manchester United Supporters Trust, which has consistently campaigned against the Glazer family.

"It would be surprising if they weren't willing to take something that gave them a profit."

What do you think? Have your say.

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LEASE ON COUNCIL HOUSE IS 250 YEARS, MANCHESTER (22/04/2010 at 11:44)

GOD IT GREAT TO BE A RED. LUHG

Disco Stu (Is it 34 or 35 years?), Levenshulme (22/04/2010 at 11:56)

this doesnt make sense?! We are skint and Manchester City are by far the richest and bestest club in the world?!!

United:The team supported by the majority of mancunians (22/04/2010 at 12:25)

this doesnt make sense?! We are skint and Manchester City are by far the richest and bestest club in the world?!!
Disco Stu (Is it 34 or 35 years?), Levenshulme
22/04/2010 at 11:56

city are just a billionaire's whim away from being the next Portsmouth which, of course, is a great basis for stability!

Red or Dead, Manchester (22/04/2010 at 12:33)

No this can't be right. According to our well informed blue neighbours we're worthless, skint and on our way out...........

stevi, france (22/04/2010 at 12:49)

OMG!! ....this is gonna be a "bitter" pill for some to swallow!! lol

Duncan, London (22/04/2010 at 12:57)

Wouldn't it be simpler and cheaper for ADUG to buy us out rather than spending twice as much on players just to get City in the champions league?

barca99, Salford (22/04/2010 at 13:02)

Right i'm not listening to this MEN anymore, United are finished and have NO value. How do i know? Cos some Siddy fans told me and i'd rather listen to them Berties than informed journalists or this Forbes magazine, them Berties know everything about everything and us rags should give them the respect that they are due, after all they have been telling us that we're finished and surely we should listen to them, after all these are the same supporters who have predicted that United will be finished after Ronaldo was sold, that United wouldn't feature in the title race this year, that Suber Siddy would win every derby, that Suber Siddy would beat United in the semis of the CC, that Kaka was on his way, there CEO told us that they were soon to be the biggest club in the world, they tell us that they fill there ground every game and its only lack of away support that brings the attendance down, there manager is a fashion icon, there owner loves them to bits despite him never watching them or in fact visiting the UK, the Arab loves there loyalty and doesnt want a return on his investment and he'll never increase ticket prices (whoops) and the 'Chumps League' isnt there target this year (well it is when there 4th, isn't when there 5th, is when there 3rd, isn't when they're 6th..........you get my drift).

We should listen to these Bitters cos they get everything right all the time every time. God bless ya Berties.

TICK TOCK ............ PLAY TO THE CLOCK (Again & Again & Again)

ericredheaven (22/04/2010 at 13:04)

The only problem with this news is that it makes it more difficult for us to get rid of the american parasites.

They'll be rubbing there grubby little mits' with glee at the thought of more zero's on the end of any potential sale price, if we're lucky enough to eventually put something together that would be acceptable.

And just ignore the noisy's for goodness sake, every comment about them makes them think we care.

Paul Salmon (22/04/2010 at 13:15)

And the bitters are ... 18th ... worth a mind boggling £168 million!!!! You could not make it up!!!!

This news has tickled me greatly, especially when we are supposed to be skint, and plummeting towards oblivion. How wonderful it remains to be a red!

Going back to work now, so will look forward to amusing myself with the shower of the masses of enraged bitter responses later!

Paul, Whalley Range

Bobby Nobles Barber, Manchester (22/04/2010 at 13:25)

Something we've tried to tell the neighbours about all season,There's none so blind as those who will not see.Glory Glory Man United

BC red, Manchester M28 (22/04/2010 at 13:29)

Moving away from this thread, noticed on the bitters side they are all making excuses for ticket rises. Could'nt make this up. Wont say a bad word about sugar daddy will they, instead aiming pops at Gary Cook.
A win over Spurs for us and them to lose at Arsenal should put an end to
4th place and us putting pressure on Chelsea. Cmon United

Doc Savage (22/04/2010 at 13:33)

"Six of the 20 teams featuring in the table heralded from England"

An interesting use of "heralded", some would say the wrong use but interesting nevertheless.

Anupam, Pune (22/04/2010 at 13:55)

Great timing by Forbes. In the week after we defeat the self-proclaimed "richest club in the world", we are again on top of the pile! 6 years and counting..

United till I die!

jordy, Middleton (22/04/2010 at 14:01)

United will NEVER die!!!!!LUHG!!!!!!!

Duncan, London (22/04/2010 at 14:27)

""Six of the 20 teams featuring in the table heralded from England"

An interesting use of "heralded", some would say the wrong use but interesting nevertheless.
Doc Savage
22/04/2010 at 13:33"

Quite right Doc - I'm sure we herald at least 19 of those clubs.

Free Red, Manchester (22/04/2010 at 14:53)

QUOTE "United, who have now topped the table for six years, were valued by Forbes at 1.835 billion US dollars (£1.19 billion) after a two per cent fall from last year."

It was reported weeks ago United was valued at £1.2 billion. At the same time the Red Knights said they have 60 investors prepared to pay £1.5 billion to tempt the glazers to sell. Not exactly news but at least the reporting is consistent. LUHG

barca99, Salford (22/04/2010 at 15:14)

Paul Salmon
22/04/2010 at 13:15

"And the bitters are ... 18th ... worth a mind boggling £168 million!!!! You could not make it up"

I'm ssurprised there worth that much mate! What a business model this Arab has ended up with eh? The only club in history who could have a owner with such wealth, pump around half a billion quid into it (transfers & club purchase) and be literally absolutely worthless, is it any wonder that ticket prices have gone up at Camp Boo today? The Arabian Gerald Ratner has sussed out what he's bought. PMSL

I can see when he meets up with his pals from the UAE to discuss business deals, "Well what did you invest in this year?", "I bought three oil wells in Texas for a Billion and have just had return profits of £15 Billion", "What about you my friend", "Well i bought a fleet of yachts for £280 million and flogged them for twice the amount", "And You", "I bought a diamond mine in south Africa for £3 Billion and my investment has been returned ten fold", "And you your excellency", "I bought an apartment block in New York and have sold it on making £800 million" and what of you Sheikh Mansour?", "Sheik Mansour", "Sheik Mansour"........

TICK TOCK ........ PLAY TO THE CLOCK

Drago 34 (22/04/2010 at 15:25)

Paul Salmon

City are actually 19th on the list.Just 1 place above Newcastle United who were relegated last season.What a massive club they are:) Just thought id point that out as we don't want to be giving them an extra place now do we?

Red or Dead, Manchester (22/04/2010 at 16:09)

Not one single bertie comment, unbelievable. They usually pride themselves at having their finger on the pulse of everything football-related not to mention their Notre Damus-esque prediciton qualities. Maybe they're still choking on their lemons over the proposed price-hikes. What happened to their owners being all about the fans and them not being in it for the money but for the love of city. For the love of god more like!

Also, it can't be just a mere coincidence that their owners name is an anagram of 'sour man' now can it....?

I'm an 'impeccable' one ! 10 Feb '08, Florida (22/04/2010 at 16:27)

Wow, some of you really need to take an 'economics 101' course.

Manchester United are one of the worlds greatest revenue generating football clubs, currently far in excess of anything City will see in the next 3-5 years.

BUT ...... the 'simple' value Forbes has allocated to your club does not tell all the story. As a quick example, look at the Value/Debt table (Which of course would be of real interest to any investor); http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/34/soccer-10_Soccer-Team-Valuations_DOV.html

AND, these figures are based on the 2008-2009 season, hardly current.

Who's cheering now ?

Waspish (22/04/2010 at 16:44)

So the rags are valued as the biggest football club in the world. So they should be they have won everything for the last 18 years. What you should be worried about is that is coming to a end when fergie goes and you'll be back to 12 to 14 Trophies every 80 odd years and looking for bargain basement buys, hope you enjoyed the last 18 years, like I've enjoyed the last 20 years of unpredictability with my beloved club.

tooth&claw, manchester (22/04/2010 at 16:45)

Anything But Red, your paymasters, the Red Knights, claim that they are going to offer the Glazers £750m for an asset worth £1.2bn. That's news isn't it? Certainly the lies you peddle aren't news. The failing London Consortium have never claimed to have £1.5bn. They also say they want to load the club with £500m+ of debt. And besides, the '60 investors' is 27 and they almost universally rejected the Nits first plan out of hand. Hence, the back to the drawing board meeting last week.

Surely, it has convinced you that you've got into bed with the wrong sort? Prostituted yourself to the first Cockney geezers who flashed some cash. And now you are screwed. Still, you'll always have the memories of the few weeks when you were wanted.

Fred C Dobbs., Tick...............................Tock (22/04/2010 at 16:55)

The Richest club in the World! What a laugh that is. The club with more debt than the rest of the Football League - now that's more like it!.
Let's see if you are the richest club in the World in a couple more seasons when you have all not renewed your season tickets and you are not buying worthless tat in your MU Superstore. He who laughs the last will certainly laugh the longest you Mugs.

cat stabber,, Manchester (22/04/2010 at 17:09)

fellow reds what we need to think about before slagging off our neighbours, who are the richest club in the world, if you choose to use the dictionary definition of the word rich (ie wealthy owning a lot of money) there is no argument.we are top of the 'most valuable club' league which is based on data from revenue streams such as tv rights merchandise and ticket sales.

The figure has fallen from last year when we won prem,world club and got to final of champs league, our league cup win will not tempt our oriental friends to purchase more club merchandise and the unofficial green and gold stuff only confuses our main hub of support in the far east.

Glazers going or staying doesnt change the fact we are struggling financially...i would rather be the richest club not the one who has sold most shirts in asia...that wont buy us ribery villa aguero et al. Its the truth no matter how much it hurts us.

A Manc and blue (22/04/2010 at 17:22)

There figues are done on sales through the turn-styles etc nothing else. Your stadium is bigger hence a bigger revenue. If your looking for a new job who would you rather go to (And this could be any sort of commerce) That means work! A firm that is finacially sound and well backed or a firm who have a health attendance but is treading on water with a massive debt, Work force ageing and no future funds available unless you work for the bank.

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