United top the Forbes Soccer Valuation list for the seventh consecutive year.
Operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) fell for our top 20 from an average of $50 million to $32 million. But the bigger concern is the growing bifurcation in profitability among Europe’s elite clubs.
The five richest teams (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich) earned $556 million, an operating margin of 24%. The five poorest teams (Newcastle United, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Olympique Marseille, Werder Bremen) lost a combined $54 million on revenues of $778 million. forbes.com
