admina staggering US$3,3 billion tag.
For the world’s most valuable soccer teams, success means turning victories on the pitch into dollars at the bank. No team has done this as well as Real Madrid, which has usurped Manchester United’s long-held title as the most valuable soccer team in the world.
It is not that the Red Devils have faltered.
It is just that Los Merengues are simply bigger, more profitable and growing faster than Manchester United.
Real Madrid, which posted revenue of US$650 million during the 2011-12 season, is worth US$3,3 billion, more than any team in the world.
Los Merengues generated operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and player trading) of $134 million, more than any soccer team and second only to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys ($227 million) among all sports teams.
Thanks to rich sponsorship deals that are underpinned by the team’s storied history of trophies–a record nine Champions League titles and 32 domestic championships — and star players that were or are global bands themselves — Raul Blanco, David Beckham, Ronaldo Lima, Cristiano Ronaldo — Real Madrid’s revenue has increased 62% over the past three years with an average operating margin of 28%. More cash is coming to Madrid: Dubai’s Emirates Airline is close to signing a long-term, US$39 million-a-year shirt sponsorship deal with the team. Manchester United, ranked second on our list with a US$3.17 billion valuation, has been a great investment for Malcolm Glazer since the billionaire bought control of the team in 2005 for US$1.47 billion. — Forbes.com.
Online Reporter