Manchester United has long been one of, if not the most popular clubs in the world. It rode a perfect wave of talent, success, and exposure in the 1990s to attain that popularity, and today it is reaping the reward. Manchester United is officially the first football club to reach the $1 billion valuation plateau, according to the Brand Finance Football 50.
Manchester United outpaced the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain in a year that has seen all 12 of the world’s richest clubs increase their value.
United’s 63% increase from a valuation of $739 million in 2014 to $1.206 billion in 2015 is an absolutely stunning show of growth. A stand out among standouts; within the top 10 wealthiest clubs in the world, only Manchester City’s 57% and Chelsea’s 58% come close.
With such a bounty of wealth at the club’s disposal, the audacious transfer claims made by it’s star forward, Robin van Persie, do not seem out of the realm of possibility. Van Persie claims that United will spend $300 million this Summer on new transfers, citing that the club spent just as much last Summer, and will do so again in order to challenge for the Premier League title.
"United spent £200 million on players last year and they are going to spend another £200 million this summer so we will have a team that can compete for the title."
Should United spend such a lofty sum of money, it will have spent as much or more than the entire net worth of clubs such as Schalke 04, AC Milan, Everton, and Southampton.
Things are looking decidedly green on the red side of Manchester.
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