Real Madrid have topped the list of most valuable sports clubs in the world, published by business magazine Forbes.
According to the American-based publication, Los Blancos are worth 2.98 billion euros. They were followed in the list by the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees – both of which were valued at 2.93 billion euros.
La Liga champions and Champions League winners Barcelona featured fourth on the list with a value of 2.89 billion euros, while Premier League side Manchester United – who Real want to do business with this summer as they attempt to sign David de Gea – make up the top five with a value of 2.83 billion euros.
Looking more closely at the figures for Real Madrid, Forbes says the club posted revenues of 682 million euros over the past year, with profits of 156.3 million euros. Thanks to the way TV revenues are worked out in Spain, Real and Barcelona enjoy some of the highest broadcast revenues in sport around the world at 253 million euros.
Despite the impressive looking numbers, the latest Forbes list shows Real’s value has actually dropped 5% year-on-year. According to the publication, the weakening of the euro against the US dollar has a big impact on Real’s revenue, while the club also failed to lift La Liga or the Champions League last season.
