the blog of manchester united

Manchester United is the most valuable team in world soccer for a second straight season and likely to hold that position next year, according to Forbes magazine.

The Premier League club is worth $1.8 billion, a $347 million increase (24 percent) from last year’s valuation, Forbes said Thursday.
Taking into account revenue growth, profitability and debt levels, Real Madrid remained second at $1.285 billion and Arsenal third at $1.2 billion.

United was among four English clubs in the top 10, with Liverpool the big mover on the list, going up from 11th last year to fourth despite the infighting between American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. Bayern Munich was fifth, followed by AC Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea, Juventus and Schalke.

Former Red Devils’ star, David Beckham, returned to the top of the richest soccer players list after his lucrative move to the Los Angeles Galaxy pushed Ronaldinho down to second place. Beckham is worth $49 million, according to Forbes, followed by Ronaldinho at $33 million.