According to Forbes, the average value of the world's top 25 football clubs is up 8 per cent on last year, to 597 million dollars. Multi-year broadcasting and sponsorship deals have insulated the top clubs from the effects of the recession.
The top five clubs - Manchester United, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool. Only the NFL has more billion-dollar teams.
The top 25 clubs posted average operating income - earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization - of 42 million dollars during the 2007-08 season, a 20 per cent increase on the previous year.