Manchester United have been valued as the world’s most valuable football club by Forbes Magazine.
The Red Devils maintained their status despite global recession problems, beating off competition from European heavyweights such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and AC Milan and fellow English powerhouses Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.
In a list of the top 20 most valuable football clubs in the world, United was at the head of the list after being valued by Forbes at £1.19billion, holding the number one position for the sixth year in a row.
Of the other English clubs, Arsenal came in at third, Liverpool were sixth, Chelsea ninth, Tottenham at 12th, Manchester City at 19th and surprisingly Newcastle United, despite being relegated last term, were 20th whilst Spain’s Real Madrid were second.
Business sports writer for Forbes, Peter Schwartz, described United as one of the biggest sporting brands in the world.
“The club has really established itself as one of the top brands in world sport,” he said.
“New kit deals and great marketing has seen them maintain their status despite all the problems of the global recession.”