The most valuable football brands have been revealed, with Manchester City coming out on top ahead of Real Madrid.
After sealing the Premier League title and the FA Cup, City are now fully focused on completing the treble by beating Inter Milan in the Champions League final this weekend.
As a result of their continued success on the pitch, their off-field value has also soared.
According to an analysis by Brand Finance, City’s brand value has risen 15 per cent to £1.29 billion.
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The rise meant they overtook Madrid, who saw their brand value drop to £1.26 billion, ending their four-year stint at the top of the standings.
Hugo Hensley, the Head of Sports Services at Brand Finance said: “Manchester City FC has achieved an extraordinary feat by surpassing Real Madrid to become the champion of football club brands.
“For a decade now, the City team has exerted its dominance in English football, including securing four Premier League titles in the past five seasons.
“However, the club’s performance in this year’s ranking highlights that Manchester City FC are performing off the pitch in terms of building a strong brand and attracting fans and sponsors, and setting the stage for what should be an iconic 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan.”
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It has been said that City's planned expansion of the Etihad Stadium has led to greater international exposure and prestige.
Despite this, Brand Finance stated that Los Blancos remain the strongest brand in world football and are likely to be voted the best club in the world by fans.
Barcelona were ranked third after a five per cent increase took their brand value to £1.185 billion.
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Meanwhile, Manchester United overtook Liverpool into fourth spot. The Red Devils’ brand value is £1.174 billion, compared to Liverpool’s £1.173 billion.
Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich were ranked sixth and seventh respectively, with Premier League sides Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea completing the top 10.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Football, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Premier League, La Liga