Louis Van Gaal will cost Manchester United another £100 million, if City holds the 4th spot.
May 15, 2016 at 1:10 PM
Football could cost Manchester United as much as £100 million, as Red Devils failure to deliver Champions League. Additionally to, after two costly years at Old Trafford, see Louis van Gaal slip further into the red.
The figure includes loss of earnings as a result of missing out on Europe’s most profitable tournament and the additional sums the club will have to invest money unwillingly to lure players to Old Trafford without the achieving the Champions League.
This is the second time in three years that United have failed to qualify for the Champions League. This season’s group stage elimination costs them an extra amount £20million.
If results go against United and Manchester City maintain their fourth place spot this afternoon, then that would put the timid cost of van Gaal’s management at £120million.
At Sheffield Hallam University, Rob Wilson, football finance expert said: “You’re talking £50million from missing out on the Champions League and another £50million on additional acquisitions as a result of not being able to offer Champions League football”.
“A good example of that is when Man United signed Di Maria and Falcao in the summer of 2014.”
“They were signed on big wages and, in Di Maria’s case, a huge transfer fee that was probably more than it ought to have been because of no Champions League football.”
Piling on the financial pressure, the club’s current shirt deal with Adidas of £75million’s value would also reduce by 30 per cent if United failed to secure Champions League football for a second successive season next spring.
Wilson added: “Every club that plays in the Premier League next year is going to get £100million from the TV rights deal, that’s up from £65million”.
“Bottom of the Premier League will earn £120million next season. Newcastle, Villa and Norwich have lost that amount without even kicking a ball.”
“That’s the minimum, not taking into account crowd drop-offs and new sponsorship deals. The gap between the two divisions has never been so large.”