MANCHESTER United have been declared the world´s richest club once more.
Although Real Madrid laid claim to the honour for a couple of years, United officials believe their gross revenue of £245million in the year to June 2007 exceeds that of the Spanish giants by just 12 Euros if average conversion rates during the 12-month period in question are used.
While the argument may be viewed as semantic by some, it means a lot to the clubs involved at a time when the battle for hearts and minds of fans and sponsors across the world is gathering pace.
United´s current fan-base has been estimated at 333 million, with chief executive David Gill believing the number of active supporters hovers around the 139 million mark - of whom 83 million are based in Asia.
It is little wonder the Old Trafford outfit have been able to post stunning profits of £59.6million for the 12 months to June 2007, a massive 93% rise on the previous year.
With revenue streams increasing in every area and more to come this year once the new, vastly-improved Premier League TV deal starts to take effect, United are in far healthier shape than anyone could have predicted before the Glazer family´s involvement following the controversial takeover in 2005.
Gill is convinced if the takeover had never happened Sir Alex Ferguson would not have had the funds for his summer blitz - which saw the arrivals of Nani, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez.
"I wouldn´t disagree with the view that it would have been unimaginable to sign those four players if we had still been a plc," said Gill.
"There is a new structure in place now, and decisions can be made pretty quickly.
-> Manchester est à nouveaux le club le plus riche de la planète devant le Real pour une différence de 12 euros !