Reigning Spanish champions Real Madrid has been valued at 3.3 billion dollars by Forbes magazine, ending the 3.2 billion-dollar worth Manchester United's nine-year reign at the top of the magazine's annual list of the most valuable football teams in the world.
According to Forbes, Real has 'turned victories on the pitch into dollars at the bank' for which it has usurped United's long-held title as the most valuable soccer team in the world in the annual list, which was started by the magazine in 2004, the Independent reports.
However, Forbes insisted that there is no reason for major concern at Old Trafford, although it stated on its website that Real is growing more bigger, profitable and faster than the Red Devils, according to figures which constituted a rise on last year's valuations of 42 per cent for United and 76 per cent for Real.
According to Forbes, due to the Spanish side attracting globally recognised players like Raul, David Beckham, Ronaldo Lima and Cristiano Ronaldo, coupled with rich sponsorship deals and a record nine Champions League titles and 32 domestic championships, Real's revenue has increased 62 per cent over the past three years with an average operating margin of 28 per cent.
Forbes further suggested that Real's place at the top of the list could continue with more cash coming in as the team is close to signing a long-term, 39 million dollars-a-year shirt sponsorship deal with Dubai's Emirates Airline.
According to the report, Barcelona are valued third, at 2.6 billion dollars, Arsenal fourth at 1.33 billion dollars, while German side Bayern Munich complete the top five with a valuation of 1.31 billion dollars in the list.
The figures also make Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona the highest valued teams of any sport ahead of the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys in fourth and fifth respectively, the report added. (ANI)
