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Manchester United 'are richest club in world'

01/05/2008

Manchester United are the most valuable football club in the world, according to the latest Forbes magazine list.

The Red Devils are worth an estimated $1.8 billion (£906 million), putting them well ahead of their traditional rivals for the title, Real Madrid, who are worth approximately $1.285 billion (£647 million).

The Primera Liga side have a greater operating income and a larger revenue stream than their English counterparts but the overall value of the club is significantly lower, the magazine states.

The list is entirely composed of clubs in Europe, with ten English teams included - and three in the top five.

Arsenal are third with an estimated value of $1.2 billion (£604 million), with Liverpool in fourth at $1.05 billion (£529 million).

Liverpool's value has increased the most compared to last year's figures, rising by more than 130 per cent since the ill-fated takeover by American investors Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

This has seen them leap up seven places from the 11th spot they occupied in 2007.

A surprising inclusion in the top ten is German club Schalke 04 (10th), who are listed as the second-most valuable club in the Bundesliga behind fifth-placed Bayern Munich.

Borussia Dortmund (15th), Hamburg SV (17th) and Werder Bremen (18th) complete the German presence in the Forbes rankings.

The other English clubs included are Chelsea in eighth; Tottenham Hotspur in 12th; Newcastle United in 16th; and Everton, West Ham United Manchester City and Aston Villa make up the spots between 21st and 24th.

Celtic are the only Scottish club in the list in 20th place.

Full Forbes list of 25 richest football clubs:

1- Manchester United
2- Real Madrid
3- Arsenal
4- Liverpool
5- Bayern Munich
6- AC Milan
7- Barcelona
8- Chelsea
9- Juventus
10- Schalke 04
11- AS Roma
12- Tottenham Hotspur
13- Olympique Lyonnais
14- Inter Milan
15- Borussia Dortmund
16- Newcastle United
17- Hamburg SV
18- Werder Bremen
19- Valencia
20- Celtic
21- Everton
22- West Ham United
23- Manchester City
24- Aston Villa
25- Olympique Marseille