Manchester United have retained top spot in the annual Football Money League with revenue of £581 million.
According to the report, this year’s battle for first place was the closest in Money League history, with United earning just £1.3 million more than Real Madrid and Barcelona coming in third with £557 million.
A place in the top 20 now requires revenue of approximately €200m, a 16 per cent increase on last year and double the amount required in the 2010 edition of the Money League.
Ten English clubs feature in the world’s top 20 thanks to the Premier League’s new £5 billion broadcast deal.
The annual report, which is in its 21st year of profiling the highest revenue generating clubs in world football, measures a club’s earnings from matchday revenue, broadcast rights and commercial sources, but excludes transfer fees.
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