Manchester United can no longer brag that they are the richest club in the world.
Having topped the world football rich list for the past eight years, Real Madrid have eclipsed them as the game's wealthiest outfit, coining in £186.2 million in 2004/05.
That represents a £20 million lead on United, who saw their earnings drop from £171.5 million to £166.4 million.
The figures are largely dictated by the success of clubs' commercial departments, and they reflect a surge in the popularity of Real merchandise around the globe.
A boom in shirt sales has been spearheaded by the arrival from United of the iconic David Beckham, and his Old Trafford exit has had a massive influence on the statistics.
Milan remain in third place (£158 million), with Juventus (£154.9 million) fourth, while Chelsea (£149.1 million) slip a place to fifth.
The top ten is completed by Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter and Arsenal, while Newcastle feature in twelfth place, Tottenham thirteenth, Celtic sixteenth, Manchester City seventeenth and Everton feature at number eighteen.
Source: www.skysports.com
Having topped the world football rich list for the past eight years, Real Madrid have eclipsed them as the game's wealthiest outfit, coining in £186.2 million in 2004/05.
That represents a £20 million lead on United, who saw their earnings drop from £171.5 million to £166.4 million.
The figures are largely dictated by the success of clubs' commercial departments, and they reflect a surge in the popularity of Real merchandise around the globe.
A boom in shirt sales has been spearheaded by the arrival from United of the iconic David Beckham, and his Old Trafford exit has had a massive influence on the statistics.
Milan remain in third place (£158 million), with Juventus (£154.9 million) fourth, while Chelsea (£149.1 million) slip a place to fifth.
The top ten is completed by Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter and Arsenal, while Newcastle feature in twelfth place, Tottenham thirteenth, Celtic sixteenth, Manchester City seventeenth and Everton feature at number eighteen.
Source: www.skysports.com
