Manchester United once again football's top earners

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - English football's Manchester United are once again the world's top club for generating revenue in 2017.

The annual Deloitte Football Money League report -- released on Tuesday and based on 2016-17 seasonal records -- shows Manchester United's earnings reached €676.3 million ($829.1 million).

Deloitte said the English club's succes in the Europa League -- UEFA's second-tier competition after the Champions League -- constituted the "critical factor" in edging out Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively second and third.

Manchester United's commercial revenues (€325.2 million) make up the lion's share of the total. Broadcast revenue amounted to €225.9 million while €125.2 million were pocketed on match days.

Spain's Real Madrid totaled €674.6 million while Barcelona followed with €648.3 million as revenue in 2017, says the report.

Germany's Bayern Munich, who have won five consecutive Bundesliga titles, are in fourth place €587.8 million woth of revenue in 2017. The Bavarian club claimed €343.4 million in commercial revenue.

"Bayern have the highest commercial revenue of any football club globally, supported by long-standing investment agreements," says the Deloitte report.

Manchester City's €527.7 million in revenue puts them fifth.

"This year’s Money League sees a record 10 English clubs in the top 20," says the report. "The top 20 remains consistent in composition for the fourth consecutive year."

- Top five clubs in the Deloitte Football Money League are as follows: