Barcelona slump to fourth in football money league as Real Madrid stay top

Barcelona are no longer one of
the three highest-earning clubs
in the world, having plummeted
down the Deloitte Football
Money League in 2013-14.
The annual revenue list, topped for an incredible 10th
straight year by Real Madrid, shows Barcelona have fallen
behind Manchester United and Bayern Munich into fourth
place after recording only a €2 million increase in receipts
on 2012-13 – the smallest gain among the top 10 clubs.
The blow comes despite the high-profile signing of
Brazilian superstar Neymar in the summer of 2013, with
commercial revenue having fallen by two per cent over the
last two full seasons. The slump also coincides with a
period during which the club was at the centre of a
scandal which saw the resignation as president of Sandro
Rosell.
Austin Houlihan, senior manager at Deloitte's Sports
Business Group, told Goal that the drop is a natural
response to their relative lack of success in recent times.
"Barcelona is an interesting one insomuch as their revenue
growth, when comparing 2013-14 to the previous year,
isn't as great as some of the other clubs around them,"
said Houlihan.
"But really that is a consequence of the previous couple of
years prior to the period we're talking about being
unprecedented in terms of on-pitch success.
"That on-pitch success they had three or four years ago
drove exceptionally high revenue so it's natural that not
being quite as successful on the pitch has driven a slightly
lower level of growth."
The Catalans' arch-rivals Real Madrid charted highest in
the revenue table for a 10th successive year in the same
season that saw them lift a 10th European title.
Their total revenue grew by 6% on the previous year to
€549.5m, but their gains were not nearly as impressive as
those of Manchester United, who recorded a 24% hike on
their 2012-13 figure to leapfrog both Bayern Munich and
Barcelona into second place.
And while Madrid's reign is likely to extend an 11th season
next year, Houlihan says their untouchable streak as
football's rich kids could come to a halt before long.
"I think it's true that clubs will naturally close the gap over
time. Real Madrid have been top of the Money League for
the past 10 years, which is hugely impressive, but will
clubs catch up? I think yes," added Houlihan.
"The Manchester United situation is particularly interesting
in that in next year's Money League, given they haven't
got Champions League football this year, we expect them
to drop – they may not even make the top five.
"But the year after, providing they qualify for the
Champions League, in the Money League covering the
season 2015-16 it is not unreasonable for Manchester
United to potentially be at the top."
Paris Saint-Germain also recorded significant increases to
maintain their position in fifth place, charting a 19% raise
on 2012-13 with €474.2m. A sensational 69% of their
income was recorded in commercial receipts, with their
sizeable sponsorship deal with the Qatar Tourism
Authority accounting for much of that figure.
Elsewhere, Liverpool climbed three places to ninth in the
season they regained Champions League football for
finishing second in the Premier League, taking AC Milan's
place in the top 10.
Courtesy: goal news
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