Man Utd's slip down Money League is latest sign Ineos need to get their act together

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For one of the richest businessmen in the world, Sir Jim Ratcliffe appears to be facing unusual financial worries. According to many reports, there is the small matter of his Ineos petrochemicals empire carrying a debt burden of £18billion.

No wonder Sir Jim - a legendary penny-pincher at the best of times - has been cost-cutting with some gusto. On the business front, three factories in Germany are going, along with a facility in Ohio. Twenty percent of the workforce at a plant in Hull were made redundant late last year.

On the sporting front, Ineos have pulled their involvement in America’s Cup sailing and ended a sponsorship arrangement with the All Blacks. There were recent claims that Ratcliffe has slashed the £170million asking price for his controlling stake in OGC Nice, currently fourth from bottom of the Ligue Un table.

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But if Ratcliffe wanted some really jolting financial news, it came with the publication of Deloitte’s annual Football Money League. The long and the short of the figures is that, in a 12-month period that takes in the 2024/25 season, mighty Manchester United collected a revenue total that was less than SEVEN other clubs in Europe and THREE other clubs in the Premier League.

United should be THE money-generating powerhouse in English football and on a par with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Instead, United’s revenue was over £300million LESS than Real Madrid’s - £692million to £1.013billion.

It was £159million less than the amount generated by Barcelona and £59million less than Bayern Munich earned. Liverpool (£729million), Manchester City (£723million) and Arsenal (£717million) are all ahead of United in the revenue table.

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Now, some of the reasons why United are in a relatively lowly spot in the financial rankings need context. The stadium brings in 70,000-plus but does not maximise matchday revenue and of the top eight in the table, only Arsenal have a smaller wage bill than United.

But there is a brutal truth about United’s place in this financial table - a truth that has only been heightened since Ratcliffe acquired a 27.7 percent stake in the club for £1.25billion in early 2024. United’s mediocrity on the field of play means their financial pre-eminence in European football has been badly damaged.

And it will be irreparably damaged if Ratcliffe, his executives and the Glazers do not get the football appointments right at the end of this season. First of all, it would be helpful if United secure a Champions League spot for next season.

The area in which United were financially trounced in 2024/25 was broadcast revenue. Liverpool, City and Arsenal all brought in at least £100million more than United’s £180million. The 2025/26 figures will not be any better for United.

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Quite simply, they need to be re-established as a club that does not miss a Champions League season, let alone a European season in any form, as it did for 2025/26. If Ratcliffe and his people think Michael Carrick is the man that can ensure that, then fine.

But what Ratcliffe and the Glazers then need to do is give him - or whoever they decide should manage the team next season - muscular financial backing. Look, you don’t win a big pot for coming top of the Deloitte’s Football Money League.

There is no open-top bus parade for being revenue champions of Europe. But this is another stark reminder that, having made a costly mistake with Ruben Amorim, Sir Jim and his people cannot afford to keep messing up the football business.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.