US business magazine Forbes has released a list of the richest football clubs in the world. For the fourth consecutive year, Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid are top of the list, followed by their bitter rivals Barcelona. English Premier League giants Manchester United seal the top three slot.
In terms of collective sports, Dallas Cowboys American football team is the richest sports team in the world, valued at around £2.77 billion, while Real Madrid come second with £2.52 billion.
Here is the official list of the top 10 world’s richest football clubs, as published on Forbes magazine.
1. Real Madrid – £2.52 billion
2. Barcelona – £2.46 billlion
3. Man United – £2.3 billion
4. Bayern Munich – £1.85 billion
5. Arsenal – £1.4 billion
6. Man City – £1.33 billion
7. Chelsea – £1.15 billion
8. Liverpool – £ 1.07 billion
9. Juventus – £900 million
10. Spurs – £704 million
The magazine cited television rights, sponsors, shirt and kit deals, and participation in European competitions as the main contributing factors to the financial status of the aforementioned clubs. Additionally, the increased payout by UEFA for teams participating in the Champions League has also contributed to more financial stability for many teams participating in the tournament. For example, the two finalists of this year’s competition Atletico Madrid and their rivals Real Madrid will earn over $100 million each. Also, despite their poor performance in the Champions League over the past three seasons, Man United’s main source of revenue derives from kit deals such as the $130 million per year deal with Adidas.
WATCH: The numbers behind the world's richest football teams:
