Finance guru: Man United set to rake it in after ‘sensational’ news from ruling body
Man United will be one of the main beneficiaries from an expanded and more lucrative Champions League.
So says finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Uefa’s plans to overhaul the tournament from 2024.
Europe’s premier competition will go from 32 to 36 teams and incorporate a new format that will almost double the number of group stage games.
Per The Times last Friday (21 January), Uefa is expecting a whopping 40 per cent upswing in broadcast and commercial rights from the revamp.
United earned £73.8million in Champions League commercial income throughout the last recorded financial year.
And Plumley expects that they will put distance between themselves and the domestic chasing pack after the 2024 overhaul.
“This is where we start to see the change of the competition format,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“There is growth potential with the Champions League but what this comes down to is broadcasters paying more for more games.
“The clubs will be the primary beneficiaries as always. More games mean more money. It’s a pretty sensational rise.
“In terms of Man United, it gives you all the more reasons as to why you need to be in it. It’s the competition that will stretch you apart from the rest.
“It should go some way to pouring some more cold water on the European Super League because Uefa are giving them what they want.
“They themselves get a bit more money from the uplift in turn, which strengthens their hand.
“For United, it’s certainly going to add to the revenue line and is going to set you further apart from the rest.“
United will face Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the 2021-22 Champions League.
They are next in action domestically against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup next Saturday (5 February).
In other news, pundit tips Newcastle United to agree Jesse Lingard deal with Man United after £16.5m reveal.