The travel industry took a huge hit in 2020, but as of late both business and leisure travel are back up and booming. With that, fans are hopping on flights to catch their favorite teams in action. Through a combination of innovation and pie-in-the-sky dreaming, brands have crafted unique experiences that the average fan never even allowed themselves to dream of.

Back in 2019, Marriott Bonvoy became a leader of these opportunities. The global corporation began its foray into A-list experiences in the sports and entertainment space with the introduction of the Seat of Dreams at Old Trafford. During a Manchester United home game, some lucky fans had the chance to watch the club play from a once-in-a-lifetime vantage point while enjoying complimentary food and drinks, all whilst seated alongside Manchester United legends. Several years later, the two sides raised the stakes with the Suite of Dreams in April 2022. One Red Devils fan and a guest won the chance to wake up in Old Trafford on a Man United match day from the comfort of a suite made to look like a Marriott Hotels guest room overlooking the pitch.

“Part of our creative strategy is, ‘Hey, what could we dream up that would really cool for our members?’ That’s our team thinking from the perspective of consumers and working alongside the talent or the organization themselves to come up with these really cool activations,” said Peggy Roe, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Marriott International, Inc.

Companies are motivated by delighting everyday devotees rather than catering to an elite group of individuals with the monetary means. Anyone can say they received tickets to watch Manchester United win in a thriller against Liverpool, but who can say they sat next to retired defender Wes Brown, picking his brain about the club’s future potential?

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Bringing Fans From Manchester to March Madness

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, sports tourism is the fastest-growing sector in the travel industry. With an estimated growth rate of 17.5% between 2023-2030, marquee competitions like the Olympics, World Cup, and the Super Bowl have become less of an avenue for fans to watch their favorite teams play, but now the perfect excuse to visit a city on their bucket list.

Tens of thousands will flock to Cleveland this weekend for the NCAA women’s March Madness Final Four. With the Elite Eight shattering viewership records, it’s only expected that this weekend’s Final Four and national championship games will break even more ratings and fuel an uptick in ticket prices for women’s sports.

For Marriott, it’s self-explanatory that entities like the NFL, NCAA, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, and others would partner with one of the largest hotel chains in the world. But what makes a fitting potential partner? Simple answer: the fans. The most loyal of all know the ins and outs of their favorite teams and the key aspects of game day rituals that set them apart. Roe explained this to Boardroom:

“I think in the beginning, we were just testing and learning. We started with tickets to Madison Square Garden and then would see what people were interested in from there. Out of that was born the NFL relationship, then NCAA and The Mercedes F1 Team. They can carry us around the world, or they’re big platforms for marketing, and we know that people are passionate about it, but increasingly, there are so many passions.

“Last year, we did some research and broke it down by age to try to better understand what people spend their money on and what motivates their travel. We found that music, sports, and culinary are top of the list. And those are even broad categories you have to dive in deeper to understand well, what about music, sports, and culinary makes people want to pack their bags?”

However, for the brands, creating experiences such as these allows for the opportunity to help improve systems that are otherwise broken. Marriott realized that instead of consumers fighting the bots and masses on Ticketmaster for a first pass at tickets, they’ll unveil their own system for attracting basketball enthusiasts.

Curating the Perfect Game Day Ritual

The most maniacal of fans are known for their fierce commitment to not only their favorite teams but also their game-day rituals. Per a Marriott Bonvoy survey administered by Wakefield Research, 63% of fans with a day of traditions believe their team will lose if they don’t complete said habit and 50% would even wear the opposite team’s gear for a week if it meant their favorite team would come out victorious. Even more fascinating, 74% of those with game day rituals said they would risk their job to watch their team play for a championship during work hours.

As the Official Hotel Partner of the NCAA, Marriott Bonvoy launched a campaign and contest where both fans and players could participate in game-day giveaways and personalized moments with basketball coach Sydney Carter at the Women’s Final Four in Cleveland. The “Score Big with Marriott Bonvoy Game Day Ritual” encouraged fans to post their most unusual game day ritual. One lucky entry won a grand prize for two including flights and hotel accommodations to the Women’s Final Four games this weekend in Cleveland that included a game day rituals session with Coach Carter. The opportunity to go behind the scenes of the biggest event in college basketball allowed fans to get a different perspective, while banking stories to tell for a lifetime.

“We want Bonvoy to help enrich people’s lives,” Roe said when asked about a through line between sports and hospitality. “We talk about connecting people to people, passions, and places in the world through community. But what we’re able to do because of that and 8,800 hotels around the world and 10,000 locations is to be able to unite people around the world. So there’s this element of, yes, we’re a hotel, but what we’re really doing is facilitating a new aspect of travel. Underneath it all, it feels like a hotel company, but it’s the communities that run our hotels every day.”

Marriott isn’t the first, and it certainly won’t be the last firm to pivot toward this method of experiential promotion. However, they’ve developed a blueprint that’s easily tailored based on the sport and activity. Not everyone will have the chance to say they saw Caitlin Clark or Kamilla Cardoso play in one of her last games as a college student, but for big brands, the games are only a small part of an unforgettable experience.

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The post From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True appeared first on Boardroom.

POST LAST UPDATED: DEC. 14, 2023

On Saturday, June 1, 2024, the UEFA Champions League will crown its next winner. In the meantime, Manchester City will be content to celebrate the 2023 title that capped off a historic treble-winning campaign.

So, who’s chasing the Sky Blues along the road to continental glory?

This year’s field was confirmed with Aug. 31’s group stage draw, and the group stage was officially narrowed to the final 16. Once again, we’re looking at eight groups of four clubs, with each playing one another home and away for a total of six matches:

• GROUP A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, FC Copenhagen, Galatasaray
• GROUP B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV, Lens
• GROUP C: Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin
• GROUP D: Benfica, Inter, Salzburg, Real Sociedad
• GROUP E: Feyenoord, Atlético Madrid, Lazio, Celtic
• GROUP F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle
• GROUP G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade), Young Boys
• GROUP H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Antwerp

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The top two in each group after six group stage matches will advance to the knockout rounds. That got us thinking — according to our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook, who’s in pole position to win the whole thing, and where is the sneakiest betting value? Check out the full 2023-24 UEFA Champions League odds rundown below.

2024 UEFA Champions League Odds

All current odds to win championship via FanDuel Sportsbook as of Oct. 25, 2023. “Opening odds” refers to pre-group stage numbers on Aug. 28 following tournament draw.

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2023-24 Champions League Group Stage Schedule

• Match 1: Sept. 19-20
• Match 2: Oct. 3-4
• Match 3: Oct. 24-25
• Match 4: Nov. 7-8
• Match 5: Nov. 28-29
• Match 6: Dec. 12-13

Which Club Makes the Biggest Profit on Transfers?

We went deep into the data to find out who makes — and loses — the most money on the transfer market across world football.

Take Me There!

UEFA Champions League Pots 2023-24

Before each year’s group stage draw, the 32 qualifying teams were split into so-called Champions League pots. Pot 1 always includes the defending champion (Manchester City), last season’s UEFA Europa League winner (Sevilla), and the domestic champions of the top European leagues not otherwise represented: Spain (Barcelona), Italy (Napoli), Germany (Bayern Munich), France (Paris Saint-Germain), Portugal (Benfica), and the Netherlands (Feyenoord).

The members of the other three pots are determined by the eligible teams’ UEFA club coefficient ranking — click here to learn more about the numbers.

Pot 1

• Manchester City, Sevilla, Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Feyenoord

Pot 2

• Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, Porto, Arsenal

Pot 3

• Shakhtar Donetsk, Red Bull Salzburg, AC Milan, Lazio, Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)

Pot 4

• Newcastle United, Union Berlin, Galatasaray, Lens, Celtic, Young Boys, Real Sociedad

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The post UEFA Champions League Odds 2023-24 appeared first on Boardroom.

Soccer jerseys — or football, depending on your location — are more than just an article of clothing. They’re symbolic of one’s love for their team, an indication of fashion trends, and a vehicle for finding fellow supporters in the wild.

Ahead of every season, the anticipation of seeing the home, away, and third kit drop is comparable to any transfer news that strengthens a club’s roster. Everything from collar design to colorway combinations help build a collection, year after year, that’s emblematic of the team’s culture and history. Not to mention, any championship-winning year automatically increases the kit’s value.

That being said, Dr. Peter Rohlmann of PR Marketing put together the numbers for the top-selling jerseys of the 2022-23 season by club. A significant through-line in the data is that despite Lionel Messi‘s influence stateside and the influx of athletes who took their talents to the Middle East, European clubs still reign supreme when it comes to where fans spend their money. Despite winning the Treble this year, Manchester City entered the list in sixth place with nearly 1.3 million units sold. Although another season passed sans lifting a major trophy, cross-town rivals Manchester United sit in second place with 1.7 million kits sold. Topping the list are both their rivals, Premier League club Liverpool.

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Also, note the kit providers. Four of the eight listed below — Arsenal, Bayern Munich, United, and Real Madrid — use Adidas as their manufacturer. City uses Puma, while Nike produces Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona‘s shirts.

In July, United renewed its kit contract with Adidas for a record-breaking £900 million ($1.15 billion), set to expire in 2035. Adidas supplied United’s uniform from 1980-1992 and the partnership started again at the beginning of the 2015-16 season.

Ahead is the full list, obtained by World Soccer Talk.

2022-23 Most Popular Soccer Jerseys Worldwide

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The post Most Popular Soccer Jerseys 2023: The Best-Sellers on the Global Stage appeared first on Boardroom.

For players under contract looking to switch teams in European soccer leagues, they have to be transferred, almost always for a fee. This means teams acquiring a star player must pay those agreed-upon fees on top of the player’s contract.

In 2023, six of the 10 most expensive transfers topped $100 million, higher than eight MLB teams’ total 2023 payroll and more than the guaranteed money owed to all but 13 NFL players under contract. While nine of these transfers came during the summer transfer window of July and August, when the most expensive moves are typically made, the biggest one of 2023 came in January in a circumstance we’ve never seen before.

Let’s lay it all out.

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The 10 Most Expensive Transfers of 2023

Transfer fee data via Capology and Transfermarkt as of November 2023.

Enzo Fernández to Chelsea

From: Benfica
Price: €121 million
Date: Jan. 31
Age: 22
Position: Central Midfield
Contract: Eight years, $93.2 million

Just over six months before heading to Chelsea in the most expensive Premier League transfer ever, Fernandez was transferred from Argentine side River Plate to Benfica for just over €44 million. But nobody benefitted more from the first-ever Winter World Cup than Fernandez, who was the breakout star of the 2022 games for Argentina, earning a trip to England and a massive contract.

Declan Rice to Arsenal

From: West Ham United
Price: €116.6 million
Date: July 15
Age: 24
Position: Defensive Midfield
Contract: Five years, $77.7 million

The English national team standout and potential future captain was signed as the missing piece for an Arsenal squad that finished second last season to Manchester City in the Premier League and allowed the fewest goals in the 2023-24 Premier season.

Moisés Caicedo to Chelsea

From: Brighton & Hove Albion
Price: €116 million
Date: Aug. 14
Age: 21
Position: Defensive Midfield
Contract: Eight years, $77.7 million

After helping Brighton to its first-ever appearance in European football, Chelsea’s spending spree continued by snapping up the young Ecuadorian star.

Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid

From: Borussia Dortmund
Price: €103 million
Date: July 1
Age: 20
Position: Attacking Midfield
Contract: Six years, $136.2 million

The English superstar has arguably been the world’s best player since officially arriving at Real Madrid two days after his 20th birthday. Bellingham has 13 goals in 14 games this season across all competitions, including a second-half brace in his El Clásico debut in a 2-1 win over Barcelona.

Harry Kane to Bayern Munich

From: Tottenham
Price: €95 million
Date: Aug. 12
Age: 30
Position: Center-Forward
Contract: Four years, $109 million

The English captain is on a tear since his long-rumored move from Spurs, with 21 goals in 16 games across all competitions. That includes a hat trick in his first-ever Der Klassiker against Dortmund.

Randal Kolo Muani to Paris Saint-Germain

From: Eintracht Frankfurt
Price: €95 million
Date: Sept. 1
Age: 24
Position: Center-Forward
Contract: Five years, $69.4 million

Fourteen months after signing in Frankfurt on a free transfer from Nantes, Kolo Muani put up 23 goals and 17 assists last season to earn nine figures for his old club and a five-year contract worth nearly $70 million for himself.

Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City

From: RB Leipzig
Price: €90 million
Date: Aug. 5
Age: 21
Position: Center-Back
Contract: Five years, $64.7 million

The world’s best team got even better with this world-class Croatian defender, the most expensive defensive summer transfer by €40 million.

Neymar to Al-Hilal

From: Paris Saint-Germain
Price: €90 million
Date: Aug. 15
Age: 31
Position: Left Wing
Contract: Two years, $218 million

The next massive move from the Saudi Pro League after Al-Nassr signed Cristiano Ronaldo was Neymar’s departure for a nine-figure salary. But the Brazilian has only played three games with his new club as he reportedly looks to make a move elsewhere when his contract expires.

Kai Havertz to Arsenal

From: Paris Saint-Germain
Price: €75 million
Date: July 1
Age: 24
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Contract: Five years, $90.6 million

After chipping in nine goals with Chelsea during their tumultuous season last year, Havertz will try to rediscover his form with their London rivals.

Rasmus Højlund to Manchester United

From: Atalanta
Price: €75 million
Date: Aug. 5
Age: 20
Position: Center-Forward
Contract: Five years, $27.5 million

After pouring in 16 goals last season as a teenager in Italy, the Danish forward has four goals in five Champions League games this season for United. He hasn’t yet, however, to score in the Premier League.

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The post The Priciest Soccer Transfers of 2023, From Enzo to Bellingham to Kane appeared first on Boardroom.

On Oct. 16, Manchester United’s stock slid upon news from two days earlier that Sheikh Jassim of Qatar would withdraw his bid to purchase the famous old club for approximately $6.06 billion. It meant that, at least for a while longer, the Glazer family that has owned a controlling stake in the Premier League’s Red Devils since 2005 — only to become widely reviled by its global base of support — would be sticking around.

That development sent Jim Ratcliffe, billionaire CEO of British chemical conglomerate INEOS, right back into the conversation. His name had been linked to a potential bid that fell out of favor when it was reported in June that his intention was to acquire less than 100% of the Glazers’ stake; Sheikh Jassim was then granted an exclusive window to negotiate an acquisition.

Four months later, here we are.

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Manchester United’s board had a meeting scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 19 to discuss several key issues. The prevailing understanding was this would include a vote to authorize Ratcliffe’s intended purchase of a 25% position in the club that would presumably increase over time to majority control.

That did not happen — since no actual agreement between the buying and selling parties has been reached, there’s nothing for the board to approve.

So, with so many facts, figures, and anxieties flying around Old Trafford faster than Marcus Rashford on a counterattack, it’s time to take a step back and establish just what we do and don’t know about the state of play at Man United.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover of Manchester United will “almost certainly” get done.

[via @SkyKaveh]. pic.twitter.com/ouWvcubOUp

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 19, 2023

What We Know About Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United

Ratcliffe’s proposed bid for 25% of the club reportedly checks in at £1.35 billion, or about $1.58 billion. That implies a total club valuation of approximately $6.3 billion, which is higher than any sports team sale to date — Josh Harris’s acquisition of the NFL’s Washington Commanders holds the current record at $6.05 billion.

The bid is understood to be for equal portions of the Glazers’ 67% stake in the club and that of the club’s other shareholders.

He’s good for it. Ratcliffe has an estimated net worth of £15 billion (~$18.2 billion). He’s already staked in soccer, too, thanks to majority investments in French club Nice and Switzerland’s Lausanne.

The deal is expected to be approved in “weeks,” as noted by outlets including iNews.

As of this time, Ratcliffe is the only serious candidate known to the public in any potential sale. There’s no guarantee that this will remain true indefinitely.

Jim Ratcliffe’s goal upon joining club ownership is to make a significant splash in the January transfer window. Manchester United are routinely rated as one of the most popular, most valuable sports organizations in the world, but have not won a Premier League title since 2012-13.

What Does Man United Spend on Wages?

Checkout the definitive list of the highest-paid players at Old Trafford — and find out who’s No. 1 .

Let’s Go!

What We Still Don’t Know About the Man United Sale

How long is this actually going to take? A protracted process that requires months to play out constitutes a major distraction for a club that sits in a teeth-gnashing 10th place in the Premier League as of this writing. No top-five finish means no European football next season, which brings its own roster-building challenges and financial limitations going forward.

Even if a deal got done today, will fans be the least bit placated knowing that the massively disliked Glazers would still be running the show?

With that in mind, what is the intended timeline for Ratcliffe to increase his stake from 25% to majority control?

Will Manchester United be able to make any notable moves in the January transfer window? There are potential concerns regarding not just the timeline of the Jim Ratcliffe deal, but Financial Fair Play regulations that could preclude the club incurring further financial losses.

Let’s say everything goes kaput. Who else is out there to step up and place a competitive bid? The number of entities that could conceivably cobble together upwards of $6 billion is miniscule.

Fortunately, the ball is still round. But around the Red side of Manchester, that may be just about the only sure thing these days — outside of an intense desire among fans to see the Glazers out of the boardroom at long last.

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The post Jim Ratcliffe Manchester United Deal: What We Know & Don’t Know About the State of Play at Old Trafford appeared first on Boardroom.

In late 2022, the Glazer family announced that the Red Devils were up for sale. Then they weren’t. Now… they are again? Sure, it’s hard to follow the latest behind-the-scenes intrigue in Salford, but suffice it to say that no matter who owns Manchester United, the most decorated club in England’s Premier League era will keep spending big on top global talent in pursuit of right-sizing their rivalry with the Noisy Neighbors.

Cristiano Ronaldo bolts for Saudi Arabia? No problem. As of this writing, the denizens of Old Trafford still cash checks like they were the New York Yankees.

That got us thinking — how much did the Premier League giants spend in total field their current roster? Let’s roll through a comprehensive rundown of the Manchester United salaries and contracts on the books this season, as well as the club’s full wage bill for 2023-24.

Click here for the Man United contract and wage rundown from the 2022-23 campaign.

Think You Know World’s No. 1 Most Valuable Soccer Club?

From the northwest of England to the Spanish capital and beyond, find out who reigns supreme among world football’s best.

Show Me the Money!

Manchester United Salaries & Wage Spending 2023-24

All Man United wage and contract figures via Capology following the close of the summer 2023 transfer window.

NOTE: Mason Greenwood is on loan at Getafe; Sofiane Amrabat and Sergio Reguilón are on loan at Man United from other clubs — numbers reflect the Red Devils’ share of wage commitments only.

Which Club Makes the Biggest Profit on Transfers?

We went deep into the data to find out who makes — and loses — the most money on the transfer market across world football.

Take Me There!

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2023-24 Man United Wage Bill

• Total weekly wage bill: $4,796,989
• Average weekly salary: $149,906

• Total annual wage bill: $249,443,413
• Average annual salary: $7,795,107

Want to Wear it Like the Red Devils?

Get Your United Gear Now!

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The post Manchester United Salaries & Contracts 2023-24: Fernandes, Rashford, Casemiro & More appeared first on Boardroom.

The phrase “DEMO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF PLAYER TRANSFERS” is probably not the sexiest one you’ve ever heard. Probably.

But if you’re interested in reckoning with the fundamental components of what really propels the business of soccer around the world this year and over the last several, you could do a lot worse than the so-named CIES Football Observatory report by Raffaele Poli, Loïc Ravenel, and Roger Besson.

Among the discoveries in this conspicuously well-organized document released this week:

• 2023 marks the first year in which player transfers have generated €10 billion ($10.73 billion) in fees; the report estimates a figure of €12 billion ($12.87 billion)
• English clubs account for 32% (or €25.36 billion) of global transfer spending over the past decade, more than double that of No. 2 Italy (€11.26 billion)
• English Premier League clubs incurred the largest losses based on net transfer spending between 2014 and 2013 at €11.11 billion ($11.91 billion)
• Portugal’s Primeira Liga, meanwhile, set the pace for league-wide transfer profits over that same period with €2.23 billion ($2.39 billion) in the green

That got us thinking: Which clubs in the Beautiful Game — particularly those Saudi Pro League rascals that fire off earth-shaking transfer fees to sign Neymars of the world — are willing to take the biggest losses as it relates to net transfer spend in order to win big? Meanwhile, which clubs have managed the heftiest transfer profits?

Think You Know World’s Most Valuable Football Club?

From the northwest of England to the Spanish capital and beyond, find out who reigns supreme among soccer’s best.

Show Me the Money!

Net Transfer Spending by Club: The Biggest Profits

All figures via CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report No. 87. Click here to read the full findings.

2023 Transfer Profit

Combined 2014-2023 Transfer Profit

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Net Transfer Spend by Club: The Biggest Losses

Transfer Losses in 2023

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Transfer Losses Combined from 2014-2023

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The post Which Soccer Clubs Have the Biggest Profits & Losses on the Transfer Market? appeared first on Boardroom.

Manchester United completed its four-city US summer friendlies tour on Sunday, leaving Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with a 3-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund. Although Erik ten Hag’s men return to the United Kingdom with just one win out of four, the club got plenty out of its trip overseas.

The Manchester United tour started in the northeast on July 22 against rival Arsenal at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Thanks to first-half goals from newly appointed captain Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho, it was a strong start to the team’s first visit to the United States since 2018. Not to mention, it happened in front of a sold-out crowd. In fact, nearly a quarter of a million American fans turned out to watch Manchester United play its four matches.

Manchester United Tour: American Attendance

• vs. Arsenal in East Rutherford: 82,262 fans
• vs. Wrexham in San Diego: 33,000 fans
• vs. Real Madrid in Houston: 67,801 fans
• vs. Dortmund in Las Vegas: 50,857 fans

“The Premier League and Manchester United got so popular over the years that we can go on tour everywhere in the world now and receive a great fan following,” retired United midfielder Bryan Robson told Boardroom. “But coming to the States is really special. The fan base is getting bigger and bigger, and the stadiums are great. Soccer is a global game, and United is a global club.”

When Manchester United started the tour in the northeast, Marriott Hotels, the club’s Official Hospitality Partner, hosted a matchday viewing party at Hudson Yards. The event featured an iconic double-decker bus splashed with United signage and the classic red hue added to the ambiance of fans decked in their favorite home kits. In addition to the bus, guests dined on traditional pub fare and drinks. It served as evidence — beyond attendance numbers themselves — of Manchester United’s international draw and its growing brand in the US. The tour continued in San Diego where Marriott Bonvoy and Marriott Hotels debuted their United, Near and Far taxis that took fans around San Diego in advance of the Wrexham match. Robson, who is also a Marriott ambassador, even made an appearance.

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Summer friendlies tours as a whole, however, continue to be the subject of debate. United midfielder Christian Eriksen wasn’t so keen on the miles the club accumulated in such a short amount of time, admitting to MUTV that “There’s been a lot of games and too much traveling, to be honest.”

However, the 31-year-old lauded the supporters that traveled alongside them and vowed to correct mistakes ahead of the forthcoming Premier League season. Ten Hag, on the other hand, reiterated that every match his side plays is vital.

“We don’t play friendly games,” the former Ajax boss told Boardroom. “We have good Premier League and European opponents we are facing. No matter the result, it is very good to compete with them because we can test ourselves and know where we are competitive. That is the main objective, figuring out where our strengths lie and working on precision. You want to raise the bar.”

Another benefit to a summer friendlies junket is the acclimation of new signings to current players. Beating out Liverpool and Arsenal, United successfully poached Mason Mount from Chelsea in July for £55M ($69.5M) with a further £5M ($6.3M) in add-ons. After 12 years with veteran goalkeeper David de Gea, the 13-time Premier League champions bid adieu to the Spaniard and completed the signing of goalkeeper André Onana from Inter Milan. The Cameroonian’s deal is worth £43.9M ($57.4M) for five years at Old Trafford.

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“I think we’ve made a couple of really good signings in the last few weeks. But the main thing that I think we need is a center forward to score more goals for us,” Robson said. “Because that’s where we fell down last year defensively as a team. We look really good, but we were about 20-30 goals behind Manchester City, even Newcastle and Arsenal. So we have to make sure that we close that gap and we score a lot more goals to make us competitive.”

Those woes may soon be talks of the past. Word is, United has its new forward in Atalanta striker Rasmus Höjlund. ESPN reported over the weekend that the 20-year-old is headed to England for £64M ($82M) plus another £8m ($10M) in incentives.

Regardless of how United fares in the transfer conversations or matchday results, it isn’t deterring the fans from shelling out millions to support the team. A June report by Reuters suggested that Man United could increase its market worth by up to $2 billion should it continue making smart investments on a worldwide level. The outlet says United boasts about 650 million fans across the world, some of whom are desperate to move forward from the Glazer family and their less-than-responsible reign of 18 years as owners. On Monday, United also announced it extended its apparel partnership with Adidas, this time valued at £900M ($1.2 billion) for 10 years.

A sale of the club to a group shepherded by Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani is looming, but an increase in profit ensures long-term success for the storied club. More money for transfers, the potential for exclusive partners. Keep in mind, not all of those 650M fans will visit Old Trafford — some may be content with solely watching the Red Devils from home. Regardless, the opportunities are endless. In the meantime, the current roster has to do its job on the pitch in order to find prosperity off it.

Manchester United opens the 2023-24 Premier League season against Wolves on Monday, Aug. 14 at 3 p.m. ET at Old Trafford.

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The post Manchester United: Embracing the Global Game appeared first on Boardroom.

In an era of multi-billion dollar overseas investment in club soccer in Europe and across the globe, Tottenham Hotspur have been an increasingly rare example of locally-owned stability.

Joe Lewis, the 86-year-old London-born currency trader and founder of holding company Tavistock Group, bought Spurs in 1991 just before the modern English Premier League as we know it replaced the old First Division. Long known for a rare art collection worth upwards of $1 billion, Lewis has largely stayed out of the spotlight as soccer has been concerned. Boasting an estimated net worth of $6.3 billion according to Forbes, he transferred control of the team over to a family trust less than a year ago.

So, when Lewis was federally indicted in the Southern District of New York on July 25 on insider trading charges, it came as a shock to the footballing world and put the future of Spurs ownership off the pitch very much in real question for the first time in decades.

Lewis, who turned himself in the following day and has entered a plea of not guilty, is alleged to have shared confidential information for companies he invested in with personal assistants, romantic partners, and even his pilots. The 19-count indictment includes charges of securities fraud and conspiracy between 2013 and 2021; he was released on $300 million bond secured by a yacht and a private plane.

In one case, Lewis is accused of loaning two of his pilots — both of whom face charges themselves — $500,000 each to invest in an oncology company before news of a clinical trial became public. Prosecutors maintain that Lewis also tipped a girlfriend off about this information.

Tottenham is known as one of England’s “Big 6” clubs alongside Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool. In May, Forbes valued Spurs at $2.8 billion, the world’s No. 9 most valuable soccer club and No. 5 in England — notably ahead of North London archrivals Arsenal. With Lewis now under serious legal scrutiny, whispers of a potential sale have grown louder by the day after the club reportedly began to explore large-scale offers several months ago.

A report last week out of England floated a potential $3.75 billion bid from Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi, who also has a minority stake in the Phoenix Suns. The spashiest rumor of all, however? That a potential bid could be coming from a group inlcuding Jay-Z, who previously owned a minority stake in the Brooklyn Nets and whose Roc Nation Sports represents top soccer stars like Kevin de Bruyne, Vinicius Junior, and Romelu Lukaku.

Notably, Chelsea (Todd Boehly), Arsenal (Stan Kroenke via Kroenke Sports & Entertainment), Liverpool (John Henry and Tom Werner via Fenway Sports Group), and Man United (Glazer family) are already owned by US-based investor groups.

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Tottenham’s ownership drama contains an additional wild card, as it arrives as the club weighs a transfer of all-time leading scorer Harry Kane. German giants Bayern Munich are reportedly prepared to raise their $80 million offer for Kane while Spurs mull external replacement candidates for the celebrated striker and English international.

While the summer transfer window closes at the end of August, it very much appears that the drama currently consuming Spurs as a team and a business has a chance to extend well into the new season.

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The post Spurs for Sale? Insider Trading, Jay-Z, Harry Kane & How Tottenham Hotspur Got Here appeared first on Boardroom.

Manchester United fans drew closer on Thursday to realizing their long-held dream of #GlazersOut. Reuters exclusively reported that the Premier League football club and the family that has owned its controlling stake since 2005 are discussing an exclusive negotiating window for a potential sale with Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar. If consummated, the transaction is expected to be worth upwards of $6 billion, giving it a chance to become the most expensive team sale in the history of pro sports.

Though this exclusivity has not been confirmed as of this writing, such a move would make the 44-year-old Qatari billionaire a truly prohibitive favorite in the race to buy one of the most valuable teams in global sport.

Amid protracted Man United sale rumors, a long-discussed candidate has been Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman and CEO of London-based chemical company INEOS Group Limited. Reuters reports that his takeover pitch currently lacks favor in that he intended for the Glazer family to retain some manner of stake in the club, while the Sheikh Jassim bid is understood to buy them out of their equity entirely.

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Who is Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar?

A leading member of the House of Thani that controls Qatar, Sheikh Jassim is the son of Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who served as the nation’s Emir — think “head of state,” but with more than just a touch of monarchy — from 1995 to 2013 before abdicating the role. Though he was previously heir apparent to the throne, Jassim removed himself from the line of succession in 2003.

The Glazer family took over Manchester United, routinely recognized as one of the most popular sports teams in the world, in 2005 when Malcolm Glazer purchased nearly 30% of the organization at an overall valuation of approximately $1.5 billion. Under their tenure, the club won five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one EFL Cup, and a UEFA Champions League crown.

Today, the “Red Devils” are estimated to be worth approximately $6 billion, but since such a significant portion of the Glazers’ purchasing capital was borrowed, they’ve carried a significant debt load in the years since.

Propped up by a petroleum-backed largesse in the form of the sovereign Qatar Investment Authority and its Qatar Sports Investments (QSi) arm — which also owns French champions Paris Saint-Germain and sports television company beIN Media Group — Sheikh Jassim won’t have that problem.

Boy-oh-boy will he ever not.

Whether Man United fans will ultimately consider his arrival a win, well, that’s a far more uncomfortable question we won’t attempt to answer just yet.

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Want to Wear it Like the Red Devils?

Get Your United Gear Now!

The post Glazers Take Big Step Toward Selling Manchester United to Qatari Sheikh appeared first on Boardroom.

The gap between the haves and have nots are greater in European soccer than in any other sports league on Earth, but the Premier League is considering a salary cap to perhaps change that.

PL teams are reportedly considering a spending cap called “anchoring,” which would be tied to how much TV revenue goes to the last place club, according to a bombshell Monday report from The Times of London.

Manchester City won their third straight Premier League title this past season, giving them five of the last six domestic championships and bringing a predictability or certain sense of inevitability that may not be popular globally.

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The Times reported that a cap could be four times larger than the last place team’s revenue, but several more competitive balance ideas will be discussed ahead of the league’s annual meetings this week. Relegated Norwich City received £100.6 million for finishing last in 2021-22, which would’ve put the wage cap at £402.4 million. The highest-spending team that season was Manchester United at £384 million, meaning it wouldn’t have acted as a real deterrent in that scenario. This remains an inexact science.

The four UEFA Champions League teams from this past season, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham, reportedly earned between £70 and £115 million in extra revenue. City and Chelsea have already qualified for a new expanded Club World Cup format starting in 2025, having won UCL titles in the last three years — with City defeating Inter Milan for the crown on Saturday — which could bring in an additional £30 million.

This talk of anchoring comes amid a potential UEFA plan that would limit teams playing in European competitions like the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League to spending 70% of a team’s revenue on salaries and transfers. The Times says the Premier League is considering a similar proposal that would set that number at 85%. Perhaps the Premier League sees what a salary cap in the NFL has done for its parity and popularity, or maybe it wants a more competitive season. Either way, change could be coming to English football in a meaningful way.

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The post Why the Premier League Is Mulling a Salary Cap appeared first on Boardroom.

Every year, fans, nerds, and would-be GMs alike celebrate what may as well be sports business Christmas: The great unveiling of various media outlets’ carefully calculated rundowns of the most valuable sports teams on planet Earth.

Mileage may vary — in plenty of cases, an outfit like Sportico might publish a noticeably higher dollar figure than another like Forbes for the same team — but in terms of depicting a clear set of relative distinctions for us to make between the haves and the have-nots, the exercise is never not a fun one for those of us constantly reckoning with the increasingly explosive ways money functions and flows throughout the games we love.

And with this being prime UEFA Champions League season, we decided to zero in on the world’s most popular sport to figure out who’s leveraging the biggest equity to get ahead of the rest of the global pack.

Naturally, depending on who you ask, the title of the world’s most expensive football club is actually very much up for debate — but the race between England’s Red Devils and Spain’s Galácticos is not the only intriguing set of data points worth diving into.

Let’s get right to it. Check out the top 20 most valuable soccer teams in the world for 2023.

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Most Valuable Soccer Teams in the World 2023

Data based on 2023 studies from Forbes and Sportico. Click on a club to see its overall salary spending and contracts overview for the 2022-23 season.

Go Deeper on the Business of the Beautiful Game

• The Highest-paid Premier League Players of 2022-23
• The Highest-paid La Liga Players of 2022-23
• The Highest-paid MLS Players of 2022-23

The post The World’s Most Valuable Soccer Teams of 2023: Real Madrid, Man United, Barcelona & More appeared first on Boardroom.

While Manchester City officially continued its dynasty by locking up its third straight Premier League title (and fifth in the last six years) last weekend, there’s plenty at stake Sunday on the final day of the season in England’s top flight, including two teams still will be relegated to the second-division EFL Championship and the final placement for next year’s lucrative European competitions.

All 20 clubs will play simultaneously at 11:30 a.m. ET across Peacock and various NBC networks, so there will be no scoreboard watching during Matchday 38.

Let’s break down all that’s on the line in the world’s richest domestic soccer league.

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A Furious Battle for 7th

The top six are set, with Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion clinching the No. 5 and No. 6 positions for UEFA Europa League qualification, joining Man City, Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Manchester United with places in the Champions League next season. It’s the Gunners’ first UCL appearance since the 2016-17 season, Newcastle’s first Champions League participation in 20 years dating back to the 2003-04 campaign, and United’s return after a year absence.

All told, a Champions League spot means tens of millions in extra revenue for clubs and a boatload more global television exposure for players and sponsors alike. For the 2022-23 season, teams earned a reported €15.64 million just for qualifying for the competition’s 32-team group stage. Each group stage win brought teams an additional €2.8 million, draws earned €930,000, and advancing to the Round of 16 netted €9.6 million apiece.

For reference, if Manchester City defeats Inter Milan in this year’s Champions League final on June 10 before a worldwide TV audience that dwarfs that of the Super Bowl, the Sky Blues will have earned an extra €95.3 million. It’s a big freakin deal.

Meanwhile, three teams will fight for seventh place, which would earn them a spot to qualify for the third annual Europa Conference League. The Conference League was founded in 2021 after the Europa League’s group stage was decreased from 48 to 32 teams, aimed at offering teams from across Europe more of an opportunity for top-level, cross-border competition. In 2022-23, teams that reached its group stage earned €2.94 million with the opportunity to earn more than €10 million for winning the whole thing.

Aston Villa (58 points), Tottenham (57 points), and Brentford (56 points) can all take this spot depending on what happens Sunday:

• Aston Villa clinches seventh with a home win against Brighton. They could also qualify if all three teams draw OR all three teams lose.
• Tottenham Hotspur secures seventh with a win at Leeds United AND an Aston Villa draw or loss. Spurs could also qualify with a draw AND losses by both Villa and Brentford.
• Brentford clinches seventh win a home win against Manchester City AND losses or draws by both Aston Villa and Tottenham.

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The Relegation Fight

How substantial is the difference between the Premier League and the second-tier EFL Championship? In the 2021-22 season, Norwich earned €100 million for finishing 20th in the Prem and a trip down to the lower division, while Fulham won about €10 million for earning first place in tier two. For Norwich, that included €79 million in equally split TV revenues and €5.6 million in combined commercial income — and that doesn’t include added global sponsorship opportunities teams get for remaining in the Premier League.

It’s what makes Sunday so vital for three teams looking to avoid relegation on the Prem’s final day.

Southampton already clinched relegation and last place, returning the Saints to the Championship for the first time since 2011-12. Everton, Leicester City, and Leeds United are in danger of joining them in the relegation zone, with only one of the aforementioned three teams able to earn safety and remain in the Premier League next season.

Everton, with 33 points and an unsightly -24 goal differential, has not been relegated out of England’s top flight since the 1950-51 season (!). Leicester, with 31 points and a -18 goal differential, rejoined the Premier League starting in 2014-15 and improbably won the league in 2015-16; they haven’t been relegated since 2007-08, when they dropped from the Championship to third-division League One. Leeds, with 31 points and a -27 goal differential, hasn’t been relegated since a trip down to League One following the 2006-07 season and has been in the Prem since 2020-21.

Here’s what each team needs to do to stay in the top flight:

• Everton earns safety with a home win against 15th-place Bournemouth. The Toffees can also stay in the Premier League if each team draws or loses, or if Everton draws, Leicester loses, and Leeds wins but finishes with a worse goal differential than Everton.
• Leicester City stays up with a home win against 14th-place West Ham AND an Everton loss or draw AND a Leeds loss, draw, or win where the Foxes have a better goal differential. Leicester is relegated with a loss or draw.
• Leeds United earns safety with a home win against eighth-place Tottenham AND an Everton loss or draw where Leeds ends with the best goal differential AND a win where Leeds has a better goal differential than Leicester if Leicester also wins.

The top three/four spots may already be decided in the Premier League, but there’s still a ton to play for and watch for on the season’s final Sunday.

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The post The Prizes and Payouts on the Line on the Premier League’s Final Day appeared first on Boardroom.

England’s Premier League boasts some of the biggest names and highest-paid players in world football, with top English clubs constantly vying for top talent. The transfer market has become an essential tool, with clubs dishing out vast amounts of money on players to improve their chances of success. To date, the Premier League is home to some of the most expensive transfers in soccer history overall, outdoing Spain’s La Liga and occupying 19 spots of the top 25 as of this writing.

Transfer fees in bringing these players to England’s top flight have surpassed $100 million on five occasions, and as time progresses, the number of high-profile, prohibitively expensive transfers will only increase as England’s best chase European trophies (and attempt to outrun UEFA’ Financial Fair Play rules).

However, not all transfers are created equal, and spending top dollar is never guaranteed success. High transfer fees and increasingly high player wages have put clubs under tremendous pressure to navigate a gradually inflated transfer market and infuse squads with top talent to win now, or even give themselves a fighting chance against teams like Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Manchester United, who continue to be the high-market makers and takers of the English game.

So, that got us thinking: Which players have landed the highest Premier League transfer fees of all time? While Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku is the only player in the top 25 to grace the list twice, the Belgian striker is far from securing the current top spot.

Let’s dive into Boardroom’s master list of the most expensive Premier League transfers ever.

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The 25 Most Expensive Premier League Transfers in History

Transfer fee data via Capology and Transfermarkt as of April 2023 and only includes incoming Premier League signings. Players are labeled by their current teams at time of writing.

1. Chelsea CM Enzo Fernández: $147.97 million

• Transfer: Benfica to Chelsea (2022-23)
• Current Contract: 9 years, $101,585,665
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Enzo’s move to Chelsea.

2. Manchester City LW Jack Grealish: $132.62 million

• Transfer: Aston Villa to Manchester City (2021-22)
• Current Contract: 6 years, $116,868,814

3. Inter Milan CF Romelu Lukaku: $123.86 million

• Transfer: Inter to Chelsea (2021-22)
• Current Contract: 1 year, $11,627,728

4. Juventus CM Paul Pogba: $115.09 million

• Transfer: Juventus to Manchester United (2016-17)
• Current Contract: 4 years, $43,779,995

5. Manchester United RW Antony: $104.13 million

• Transfer: Ajax to Man United (2022-23)
• Current Contract: 5 years, $64,927,119
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Antony’s move to Man Utd.

6. Manchester United CB Harry Maguire: $95.23 million

• Transfer: Leicester to Man United (2019-20)
• Current Contract: 3 years, $35,743,104

7. Manchester United LW Jadon Sancho: $93.17 million

• Transfer: Borussia Dortmund to Man United (2021-22)
• Current Contract: 4 years, $87,790,801
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Sancho’s move to Man Utd.

8. Juventus CF Romelu Lukaku: $92.84 million

• Transfer: Everton to Man United (2017-18)
• Current Contract: 1 year, $11,627,728

9. Liverpool CB Virgil Van Dijk: $92.78 million

• Transfer: Southampton to Liverpool (2017-18)
• Current Contract: 3 years, $41,386,752
• Click here for Boardroom’s VVD contract breakdown at Liverpool.

10. Chelsea CB Wesley Fofana: $88.12 million

• Transfer: Leicester City to Chelsea (2022-23)
• Current Contract: 7 years, $87,790,081
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Fofana’s move to Chelsea.

t-11. Liverpool CF Darwin Núñez: $87.69 million

• Transfer: Benfica to Liverpool (2022-23)
• Current Contract: 6 years, $52,674,048
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Darwin’s move to Liverpool.

t-11. Chelsea CM Kai Havertz: $87.69 million

• Transfer: Bayern Leverkusen to Chelsea (2020-21)
• Current Contract: 3 years, $28,218,240

t-11. Nice RW Nicolas Pépé: $87.69 million

• Transfer: Lille to Arsenal (2019-20)
• Current Contract: 1 year, $6,315,243

t-11. GK Chelsea Kepa Arrizabalaga: $87.69 million

• Transfer: Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea (2018-19)
• Current Contract: 3 years, $28,218,240

15. Manchester City CM Kevin De Bryune: $84.30 million

• Transfer: VFL Wolfsburg to Man City (2015-16)
• Current Contract: 3 years, $75,248,640
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on KDB’s contract with Man City.

16. Juventus RW Ángel Di María: $82.21 million

• Transfer: Real Madrid to Man United (2014-15)
• Current Contract: 1 year, $8,203,415
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Di Marias’ move to Juventus.

17. Manchester City CB Rúben Dias: $78.48 million

• Transfer: Benfica to Man City (2020-21)
• Current Contract: 5 years, $56,436,480

18. Manchester United CDM Casemiro: $77.44 million

• Transfer: Real Madrid to Man United (2022-23)
• Current Contract: 4 years, $87,790,081
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Casemiro’s move to Man Utd.

t-19. Chelsea LW Mykhaylo Mudryk: $76.73 million

• Transfer: Shakhtar Donetsk to Chelsea (2022-23)
• Current Contract: 9 years, $56,436,480
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Mudryk’s move to Chelsea.

t-19. Newcastle CF Alexander Isak: $76.73 million

• Transfer: Real Sociedad to Newcastle (2022-23)
• Current Contract: 6 years, $45,149,184

t-19. Manchester City DM Rodri: $76.73 million

• Transfer: Atlético Madrid to Man City (2019-20)
• Current Contract: 5 years, $68,977,920

22. Manchester City RW Riyad Mahrez: $74.31 million

• Transfer: Leicester City to Man City (2018-19)
• Current Contract: 3 years, $30,099,456

23. Atlético Madrid CF Álvaro Morata: $72.34 million

• Transfer: Real Madrid to Chelsea (2017-18)
• Current Contract: 2 years, $20,908,574

24. Chelsea LB Marc Cucurella: $71.57 million

• Transfer: Brighton to Chelsea (2022-23)
• Current Contract: 6 years, $65,842,560
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Cucurella’s move to Chelsea.

25. RB Bayern Munich João Cancelo: $71.24 million

• Transfer: Juventus to Man City (2019-20)
• Current Contract: 1 year, $7,680,701

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The post The Most Expensive Premier League Transfers of All Time appeared first on Boardroom.

Manchester United is one of the world’s most successful, widely-supported clubs not just in soccer, but all of sports. With a rich history spanning over 140 years, the Old Trafford club has achieved iconic European distinctions and a sky-high stack of milestones to cement its place in global footballing folklore.

And in leveraging its renowned status, Manchester United isn’t a stranger to setting high expectations and dishing out giant salaries to make it happen.

Look no further than the list of all-time most expensive Premier League transfers to truly understand United’s opulent methods. Out of the top ten players, the Red Devils currently occupy the title for making the fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-largest signings in the history of England’s top flight, led by Paul Pogba‘s then-world-record transfer of $109.48 million from Juventus.

In recent years, United has prioritized developing and promoting a core of young talent spearheaded by phenoms like Jadon Sancho, focusing on building a pacy team under the management of Erik ten Hag. The evolution in philosophy requires those who can compete at the highest level now while also maintaining a long-term vision for the future. Additionally, the Red Devils emphasize the importance of playing attacking football and entertaining its fans, which has been a standard set in place and expected from United’s global fanbase.

As the Premier League landscape shifts towards tactical flexibility, physicality, and a high pressing/counter-attacking style, United has systematically adapted with its roster that’s led today by dynamic players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford — but what does that mean for their wage bill?

With all this in mind, let’s dig into the Manchester United salaries and contracts sitting on the books at Old Trafford this season.

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Man United Salaries & Contracts for the 2022-23 Season

All wage spending figures via Capology 

1. GK David de Gea: $23,515,200

• Contract: 1 year, $23,515,200

2. LW Jadon Sancho: $21,947,520

• Contract: 4 years, $87,790,081
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Sancho’s contract details.

t-2. CDM Casemiro: $21,947,520

• Contract: 4 years, $63,961,344
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Casemiro’s move to Man Utd.

4. CB Raphaël Varane: $21,320,448

• Contract: 3 years, $63,961,344

5. ST Anthony Martial: $15,676,800

• Contract: 2 years, $31,353,600

6. CAM Bruno Fernandes: $15,049,728

• Contract: 4 years, $60,198,912
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Bruno’s contract details.

7. RW Antony: $12,541,440

• Contract: 5 years, $62,707,200
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Antony’s contract details.

t-7. LW Marcus Rashford: $12,541,440

• Contract: 2 years, $25,082,880
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Rashford’s contract details.

9. CAM Christian Eriksen: $9,406,080

• Contract: 3 years, $28,218,240
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Eriksen’s 2022 move to Man Utd.

t-9. LB Luke Shaw: $9,406,080

• Contract: 2 years, $18,812,160

t-11. CM Donny van de Beek: $7,524,864

• Contract: 3 years, $22,574,592

t-11. CB Lisandro Martinez: $7,524,864

• Contract: 5 years, $37,624,320
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Lisandro’s 2022 move to Man Utd.

t-11. CM Fred: $7,524,864

• Contract: 2 years, $15,049,728

t-11. CB Victor Lindelöf: $7,524,864

• Contract: 2 years, $15,049,728

15. CM Marcel Sabitzer: $6,897,792

• Contract: 1 year, $6,897,792

16. RB Aaron Wan-Bissaka: $5,643,648

• Contract: 2 years, $11,287,296

t-17. CB Phil Jones: $4,703,040

• Contract: 1 year, $4,703,040

t-17. LB Tyrell Malacia: $4,703,040

• Contract: 4 years, $18,812,160
• Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Malacia’s 2022 move to Man Utd.

19. LB Brandon Williams: $4,075,968

• Contract: 2 years, $8,151,936

20. CDM Scott McTominay: $3,762,432

• Contract: 3 years, $11,287,296

21. GK Tom Heaton: $2,281,824

• Contract: 1 year, $2,281,824

22. GK Jack Butland: $2,194,752

• Contract: 1 year, $2,194,752

t-22. CF Wout Weghorst: $2,194,752

• Contract: 1 year, $2,194,752

24. RB Diogo Dalot: $1,567,680

• Contract: 2 years, $3,135,360

25. RW Facundo Pellistri: $1,254,144

• Contract: 3 years, $3,762,432

26. LW Alejandro Garnacho: $438,950

• Contract: 2 years, $877,901

27. LW Anthony Elanga: $313,536

• Contract: 4 years, $1,254,144

Man United 2022-23 Wage Spending Facts

All salary figures via Capology as of April 4, 2023

• Annual Payroll: $245,937,638
• Weekly Wage Spending: $4,729,570
• Average Player Salary per Week: $163,089

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Wear it Like the Red Devils

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The post 2022-23 Manchester United Salaries & Contracts Breakdown appeared first on Boardroom.

Think of the best goal your favorite soccer player from the 1990s era ever scored. Whether it was a stoppage-time winner or a screamer from outside the penalty box, they likely looked even better celebrating when it was coupled with a clean fit.

Back then, uniform ensembles were works of art. Remember those flashy oversized numbers? Well, Adidas is bringing back the nostalgia the classic jerseys carry with its new icon collection, available to shop right away.

Merging retro designs with modern streetwear, participating clubs that received a throwback makeover include Ajax, Arsenal, FC Bayern, Juventus, Manchester United, Real Madrid, select national sides, and more.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Manchester United (@manchesterunited)

Jerseys feature that older-school oversized silhouette and shiny finish, but the capsule takes on alternate colorways not commonly associated with the club. For example, Manchester United’s kit boasts erratic black and blue line detailing. However, the fiery red, black, and white hues remain prominent on a pullover and woven pants. Real Madrid’s iteration features an all-white detail, eerily familiar to club legend Luis Figo’s No. 7 jersey.

The line is complete with a fresh Celtic kit that plays homage to the Three Stripes’ Equipment era. It dreams up what the Scottish club may have worn during the early 1990s, complete with the club crest and diagonal black and white stripes against a green background. Another standout jersey is Bayern’s, complete with bold colors reminiscent of the away shirts players rocked during the mid-1990s.

The Adidas Football Icons collection is available to shop at adidas.com.

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The post Adidas Reimagines Classic Jerseys with Football Icon Collection appeared first on Boardroom.

Marcus Rashford is at the height of a career resurgence at Manchester United. By good fortune, his goal-scoring resurrection has arrived perfectly in time to discuss a contract extension to retain the forward’s services beyond 2024.

The 25-year-old English international endured the worst year of his professional career last season under ex-managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. The United youth academy product saw career lows regarding goals scored and minutes played on the pitch since his debut with United’s first team in 2016. With heavy scrutiny of the club’s ownership injected throughout the fanbase and the dysfunctional departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester faithful began to wonder if they had the attacking threats necessary to compete for a Champions League slot next season.

But under newly appointed manager Erik ten Hag, Rashford rediscovered his previous form and is currently the third-highest scorer in the league behind Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. In fact, Rashford is having the best scoring season of his career, and it’s still only February. As his attacking metrics continue to rise during the season, a contract extension to keep Rashford in the iconic red shirt will be the club’s immediate top priority. The former Ajax manager also gets the best from Jadon Sancho, creating a potent attacking link-up for years.

Ten Hag has voiced Rashford as vital to United’s current philosophies and noted that his extension is critical to the club’s future. Furthermore, Rashford’s positive energy affects the entire locker room, and when Marcus is happy, the goals pour in. On pace for the best scoring season of his career, the young forward is due for a massive weekly salary bump from his current $247,377 weekly.

With all this in mind, let’s look at Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford salary details.

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Marcus Rashford Contract Details & Wages

All financial figures via Capology.

Years: 2
Total value: $25,730,000
Salary per year: $12,863,578
Wages per week: $247,377
Free agency: 2024

Rashford Salary Notes

• Rashford has earned an approximate gross total of $41,110,433 in his playing career.
• He is the seventh-highest-paid player at Man United as of this writing.
• Rashford’s 2022-23 salary accounts for 5.17% of United’s $4,786,735 weekly payroll.

Marcus Rashford Transfer History

January 2016: Marcus Rashford signed his first contract with Manchester United after playing through their academy ranks.

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The post Marcus Rashford Contract & Salary Breakdown appeared first on Boardroom.

In 2021, Manchester United signed English winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for an earth-shaking transfer fee of $87.94 million. As things stand today, the 22-year-old winger is the fourth most-expensive transfer in club history. Despite the expenditure, however, the player is 13th in overall minutes played for the club this season under Erik ten Hag as of this writing.

For the 2022 World Cup, Gareth Southgate favored occupying England’s wings occupied by Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford, and Raheem Sterling, leaving Sancho off the Three Lions’ roster in Qatar entirely. Additionally, he neglected Sancho when it came time to select a pair of last-minute call-ups, opting for James Maddison and Conor Gallagher instead.

All told, there’s been a noticeable decline in the former Borussia Dortmund phenom’s production — his goal and assist contributions are down since his last season in the Bundesliga — and Red Devils will need to address in order to keep him from becoming a distressed asset. His goal and assist contributions are down since his last season in the Bundesliga, and it doesn’t exactly help that Sancho became a United player during one of the club’s most turbulent times in many, many years thanks to rapid managerial changes from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to Ralf Rangnick and ten Hag, the messy divorce with Cristiano Ronaldo amid a tell-all fiasco, and open revolt among the fans over the Glazer Family‘s ownership of the team.

No pressure, right?

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The winger’s contract with the Red Devils is set to expire in 2026, and while the club hasn’t seen the desired ROI on its Sancho investment yet, there’s plenty of time for the Englishman to solidify himself as a mainstay — and potentially create value on the pitch even beyond his already-sizable wages.

With all this in mind, let’s take a closer look at Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho salary details.

Jadon Sancho Contract Details & Wages

All financial figures via Capology.

Years: 4
Total value: $90,050,000
Salary per year: $22,511,262
Wages per week: $432,909
Free agency: 2026

Sancho Salary Notes

• Sancho has earned an approximate gross total of approximately $31,745,701 in his playing career.
• Sancho is the No. 2 highest-paid player at Man United.
• Sancho’s 2022-23 salary accounts for a staggering 9.04% of United’s $4,584,681 weekly payroll.

Jadon Sancho Transfer History

July 2021 Borussia Dortmund (Germany – Bundesliga) to Manchester United (England – Premier League)

• Transfer Fee: $87,940,000

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The post Jadon Sancho Salary & Contract Breakdown appeared first on Boardroom.

Another January transfer window has come to a close and one thing is for certain: Premier League clubs had no problem opening their pocketbooks wide. As noted by Reuters, English teams collectively spent a record £815 million ($1 billion) in the January window. The club that takes top honors as the one to have spent the most?

None other than humble Chelsea FC, who generated approximately 37% of that total all by themselves.

The five-time top-flight champions tallied over £323 million in spending ($400 million) for just eight players, ending things on Jan. 31 with an English record £107 million ($132 million) deal for Benfica and Argentina central midfielder Enzo Fernández.

Yes, read those numbers again.

When you’ve caught your breath, it’s time to talk Todd Boehly’s Blues, plus the other stories that defined the 2023 January transfer window.

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Chelsea’s outrageous, record-setting spending

Chelsea went to great lengths to outdo their Big Six foes in the talent department. After winning just one of six games across all competitions in January, new(ish) boss Graham Potter immediately recognized the need for more help. So, what does the Englishman do? Beg owner and chairman Boehly to loosen the purse strings to make the team competitive again.

It happened not a moment too soon, as Chelsea currently sit No. 10 in the Premier League table 10 points out of fourth place. When the UEFA Champions League returns in two weeks, they have a date with Borrusia Dortmund.

To their credit, this is indeed a rebuilding year. Sure, the likes of Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount would rather taste success here and now, but an impressive slew of incoming players virtually assures Chelsea relevance (at the very least) for several seasons to come. All told, Potter’s dream team is taking shape, so if the defeats keep piling up and the trophy case remains empty year after year, expect him to be treated as the one left holding the bag.

Boehly-nomics in context, with a side order of Everton strife. pic.twitter.com/wfANv2uNT8

— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) February 1, 2023

Chelsea’s January transfers in

• David Datro Fofana (Molde)
• Benoît Badiashile (Monaco)
• Andrey Santos (Vasco da Gama)
• Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid) Loan
• Mykhailo Mudryk (Shakhtar Donetsk)
• Noni Madueke (PSV Eindhoven)
• Malo Gusto (Lyon)
• Enzo Fernández (Benfica)

Chelsea’s January transfers out

• Bashir Humphreys (Paderborn) Loan
• Malo Gusto (Lyon) Loan
• Cesare Casadei (Reading) Loan
• Jude Soonsup-Bell (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Jorginho (Arsenal)

Leeds United: America’s Team?

What do Leeds United and the USMNT have in common? We present to you new arrival Weston McKennie, plus incumbents Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson. The former comes to Elland Road from Juventus on a loan with an option to buy worth around $35 million.

Playing under the management of fellow American Jesse Marsch — to say nothing of winger Jack Harrison, who was educated in the US and cut his teeth in MLS — we’re looking at the first club ever to out-Fulham Fulham as it relates not just to signing Americans, but empowering and elevating them.

So, will the gamble pay off? Time will tell in due time, as Leeds are 15th in the Premier League as of this writing, just one point above the relegation zone. It’s going to take some grit to escape the drop, but on the bright side, three Yanks being responsible for the Peacocks maintaining Premier League status for another year would be a hell of a story. Injuries marred the 24-year-old McKennie’s potential to excel in Italy between Juve and a loan spell at AC Milan, but his accurate passing and opportunistic chance-creation represent a promising boost.

WTF, Serie A?!

Chelsea spent £323 million (€329 million) on January transfers alone. Serie A, once the undisputed No. 1 league in the world, spent less than €28 million total. That’s an average of €1.4 million per team, or lower than the annual wages of every single player on Chelsea’s active roster according to Capology — and an indication of just how dire the financial situations of any number of Italian clubs (seriously, throw a dart at the map) currently is.

According to Transfermarkt, the biggest transfer fee paid by a Serie A club in January was the €8.5 million Fiorentina paid Hellas Verona for Antonin Barak.

That’s a big number… in 2003.

A year and a half ago, Juventus had Cristiano Ronaldo on its roster. Today, they’re in absolute shambles, losing a devastating 15 points in the table for, among other offenses, reporting fraudulent player transfer values for their own economic gain. According to the Italian Football Federation’s Court of Appeals, this was accomplished through “the concealment of documentation or even manipulation of invoices” over “a repeated and prolonged” period. Additionally, several principal figures at the club are understood to have been fully aware of the footballing malfeasance that was taking place.

Oh, and RedBird Capital’s acquisition of AC Milan last year is currently under investigation by Italian tax authorities, as Reuters notes.

No wonder the European Super League concept (and all its guaranteed “solidarity payments” and lack of relegation) won’t die! The moneyed global game as we know it is quite literally passing Serie A by. Is there any way this doesn’t get worse before it gets better?

Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia & Man United’s Reset

In August 2021, Manchester United had just announced the return of beloved No. 7 Cristiano Ronaldo after more than a decade away. Fast forward 15 months, the Portuguese international now calls Saudi Arabia home.

After a tumultuous second spell at Old Trafford, CR7 inked a deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in December, taking home a reported $206.91 million per campaign (!) through the end of the 2024-25 season. Considering how well United are playing since he left, fans wouldn’t be wrong to think that this exit should have come earlier. United are in contention to lift a trophy for the first time since clinching the UEFA Europa League under Jose Mourinho back in 2017. Still in the running for the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Europa League, and dare-we-say the Premier League, the Red Devils are experiencing a modest renaissance thanks to an in-form Marcus Rashford, a more confident defense, and vintage David de Gea saves between the sticks.

All three winter signings — Jack Butland of Crystal Palace, Wout Weghorst of Burnley, and Marcel Sabitzer of Bayern Munich — arrived on loan deals, but there’s perhaps a strategy to doing quite literally the opposite of Chelsea. You see, 2023 could finally be the year emphatic #GlazersOut chants will finally come to fruition. Billionaire businessman Jim Ratcliffe confirmed he’d like to orchestrate a bid to become United’s new owner, but the much-maligned Glazer family won’t take a bargain to sell the club, reportedly seeking upwards of $7 billion.

Even if ownership remains unchanged, however, it’s hard to argue that Manchester United’s futures aren’t improving.

Sam Dunn also contributed to this story.

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The post 2023 January Transfer Window: Comprehending Football’s Financial Feast appeared first on Boardroom.

Sportico released its English Premier League team valuations on Tuesday, with Manchester United leading the pack at $5.95 billion — a 28% increase over two years ago. Yet despite the EPL being the world’s most popular professional sports league, its franchise valuations pale in comparison to the NBA‘s by a wide margin.

Look at the most valuable franchises in both leagues:

Top Premier League Valuations

• Manchester United: $5.95 billion
• Liverpool: $4.71 billion
• Manchester City: $4.43 billion
• Arsenal: $3.6 billion
• Chelsea: $3.47 billion

Top NBA valuations

• Golden State Warriors: $7.56 billion
• New York Knicks: $6.58 billion
• Los Angeles Lakers: $6.44 billion
• Chicago Bulls: $4.09 billion
• Boston Celtics: $3.92 billion

As Sportico’s Eben Novy-Williams points out, the gap between 1 and 10 in the EPL is 12.5x, compared to 3.2x in the NBA. The average NBA franchise value is $3 billion, essentially double the Prem’s average of $1.51 billion.

Why is there such a disparity between the two leagues? Let’s dive in to some of the biggest reasons.

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Promotion/Relegation

The first reason is the largest and most simple. The NBA’s closed system promises membership every year, guaranteeing revenue no matter how you finish on a yearly basis. An EPL bottom-feeder doesn’t have that kind of financial security. It causes a top-heavy league, with Man United worth more than the bottom 14 Premier League clubs combined.

It’s no wonder the top clubs tried to form a Super League. A closed system playing only the top teams would have caused valuations to explode, and a Premier League without pro/rel would also mean a sharp increase for those clubs that are now fighting to stay in the first division.

Salary Cap

The easiest way to limit expenses is to cap spending. Who knew?!

There are technically safeguards in football that are supposed to keep player spending lower than annual revenues, but that’s enforced about as strictly as jaywalking in New York City. While small market NBA teams complain that a soft salary cap and luxury tax penalties aren’t enough of a deterrent for teams like the Warriors and Nets to break the bank, the difference between Golden State’s league-high payroll and Indiana’s league-low payroll is still less than $100 million. We can’t say the same for the EPL, with a canyon-sized gap between the haves and have-nots in nearly every respect.

Regional Sports Networks

While the Premier League pays its teams vast sums in domestic and international broadcast deals, the bottom teams are more reliant on broadcast revenues than any NBA club. Per Sportico, $70.7% of Newcastle United‘s $239 million revenue last season came from broadcast deals.

NBA teams get their share of national and international broadcast deals as well as local revenue from regional sports networks, some of which the teams themselves own. This puts millions, and sometimes tens of millions, of dollars in guaranteed money into the teams’ pockets. Which leads us into our next reason…

Tonnage

Premier League teams play 38 total games, with everyone playing everyone else twice. Other domestic and international competitions add to the total and to the disparity between the large and small clubs who bring home UEFA Champions League and Europa League revenue based on how they fall in the PL standings.

NBA teams are guaranteed 82 games per season, and the playoffs could bring as many as 26 additional games. More teams, more games, more tonnage, larger attendance, more concession and stadium revenues, more hours of content for national and local broadcasts. And every team is guaranteed those games every season. Tonnage is a big reason why the average MLB team is worth $2.31 billion even though it’s nowhere near as popular as the Prem.

Media Market Size

Nearly half of the NBA (13 teams) plays in a US city of more than 2 million. An additional six have a TV market of more than 1.5 million. These are numbers the Premier League and the UK population just can’t compete with. London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and Newcastle are the only metro areas that reach seven figures, compared to 22 NBA metro areas in the U.S. with populations over 2 million.

While the Premier League is still more globally popular than the NBA by leaps and bounds, the gap in franchise valuations between the two outfits will only grow wider and wider over time.

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The post Why Are Premier League Team Valuations So Low? appeared first on Boardroom.

In December, Qatar joined South Africa in 2010 and Spain in 1982 as the only men’s FIFA World Cup host countries not to make it out of the group stage in the tournament’s storied 93-year history. So, if your national side can’t measure up, why not buy yourself a team you can be truly proud of?

Qatar Sports Investments, an ostensibly private Qatari consortium with close ties to the country’s ruling family — it could very well be owned by the Qatar Ministry of Finance and the nation’s Olympic committee, but the facts are murky — has reportedly prioritized purchasing Liverpool FC from Fenway Sports Group, which put the iconic English Premier League club up for sale in November.

Forbes’ 2022 soccer valuations had Liverpool worth $4.45 billion, a 9% increase from 2020 and a figure that makes them the No. 4 most valuable team in the sport behind Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United. The Boston-based FSG bought the team for $344 million in 2010 and could easily fetch $4-5 billion for LFC now, which QSI could certainly afford.

The Qatar Sports Investments portfolio has notably included Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain since 2011, the club Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar call home.

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While Liverpool is struggling this season in England’s top flight, it won its first Premier League title in 30 years in 2020, took home the UEFA Champions League title in 2019 for the first time in 14 years, and has won the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and Club World Cup while making improvements to legendary home stadium Anfield, as well as its academy and training grounds.

If a deal goes through, Liverpool would become the third Premier League club with ownership based in the Persian Gulf region — United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister Shiekh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi led the purchase of Manchester City in 2008, while Saudi Arabia’s sovereign Public Investment Fund purchased a majority stake in Newcastle United in 2021.

As noted by FourFourTwo and others, a February bid from QSI is reportedly likely for either a full or partial purchase of Liverpool FC, with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley assisting in the sale. Other suitors will also be in play with formal bids emerging over the coming weeks.

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The post Is PSG Owner Qatar Sports Investments Gearing Up to Buy Liverpool FC? appeared first on Boardroom.

It’s a continuous rebuilding period for Manchester United. But for the first time in a while, the stars are aligning for the storied club. Multiple players are in great form, the manager seems to have control of the dressing room, and most importantly, this could be the year the Red Devils finally break their trophy-less drought.

Ex-United forward Dwight Yorke is buzzing with confidence, and the Trinidadian and Tobagonian former footballer sat down with Boardroom to discuss the sort of signings United need to make during this January transfer window, one player who is experiencing a resurgence, and more.

Yorke spoke with Boardroom through Marriott Bonvoy, which is entering its fourth year in partnership with United. The partnership and the Marriott Bonvoy Moments platform allows for qualifying members to bid on prizes like an overnight stay in Old Trafford, pitch-level access, and a chance to travel to Barcelona with the team.

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VINCIANE NGOMSI: What do you think is Man United’s top priority — player or position — during this winter transfer window?

DWIGHT YORKE: I think it’s obviously well-documented that they’re looking for a [No.] 9. Someone in that iconic position to sort of strengthen the offense because of the injuries to [Anthony] Martial. Defensively, they’re fine. The right-back position is probably an issue, but [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka has been given a few opportunities for a turnaround.

They’ve always had a decent squad to compete with, it’s just results haven’t gone our way and we certainly haven’t been able to win any major trophies. At the moment, United are doing great and are on an unbeaten run. It’s no longer if we were going to win those games. But, I think we’ll have a real assessment in the coming weeks playing the top two teams in the Manchester Derby this weekend and Arsenal after that. I think that will give an idea of where United are and what they need to improve. It’s not about bringing the players, that’s not the problem. It’s about bringing in the right people that can take them forward.

VN: You spent four years at Old Trafford, making 96 appearances and scoring 48 goals for United. What would you say is your favorite memory while playing for United?

DY: Definitely the historic 1998-99 Treble season. It’s never been done before by any British team and it’s the biggest moment in club history. It’s hard to look beyond the 1999 team because of what we achieved and to be a part of that historical moment in club history is quite unique.

VN: While this current squad aren’t in Treble contention, they have turned things around in recent months. Marcus Rashford always seems to find the back of the net and United are in fourth place in the domestic title race (35), tied with Newcastle and four points behind City (39). Is this a team that can win a trophy by the end of the season?

DY: What we are seeing now under the Erik ten Hag regime is a lot more consistency. They are more competitive in games, but we all know it’s not as easy as that. The Premier League is much harder to attain because we are a few points behind City. What we are seeing right now is a huge turnaround for Rashford and we are seeing what he was always capable of doing. If you’re a United fan, you are really optimistic.

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VN: You inked a two-year deal to become manager of A-League men’s club Macarthur FC in South Western Sydney, Australia in May 2022. Having been mentored by arguably one of the best in European football, what’s the one piece of advice you learned from Sir Alex Ferguson that you’ll impart on your own players?

DY: He told me: ‘Look, you know the game and you’ve played the game at the top level — you have to do things your way. You can take some things on what to do and what not to do, but ultimately your ideas have to resonate.’ I think that’s one of the wisest things I’ve taken away from one of the many, many conversations I’ve had with him. You have to take shape of your own destiny.

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The post Boardroom Q&A: Dwight Yorke on the State of Manchester United appeared first on Boardroom.

Just 20 months ago, the big reveal of the would-be European Super League rocked the soccer establishment and the sports world at large.

Twelve of the world’s top football clubs — Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan — had planned to break away from the UEFA Champions League to form their own competition financed in large part by JP Morgan. Those dozen charter members would be exempt from relegation and be joined each year by eight additional qualifying teams. The model would have mirrored closed-system American sports leagues, destroyed Europe’s pro-rel system, and maximized profits at the cost of the world’s most popular club sports competition.

Fan and pundit backlash ensured with incredible haste the Super League concept never actually off the ground, but Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus have remained hard at work to keep the idea (and the massive solidarity payments its member clubs would have received) alive. The trio immediately sued UEFA in Spanish court, alleging that the governing body wielded illegal monopolistic control and governance over European football.

Ahead of a final ruling expected next year, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice rejected the claim Thursday in a non-binding ruling.

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The lawsuit also aimed to protect the breakaway clubs from impending UEFA sanctions, which included Champions League bans and other unprecedented penalties and punishments.

“The FIFA-UEFA rules under which any new competition is subject to prior approval are compatible with EU competition law,” Advocate General Athanasios Rantos said in his opinion. “Having regard to the competition’s characteristics, the restrictive effects arising from the scheme are inherent in, and proportionate for achieving, the legitimate objectives related to the specific nature of sport that are pursued by UEFA and FIFA.”

Rantos said that EU competition law did not prohibit FIFA or UEFA from issues threats of sanctions against the clubs who tried to form the European Super League. While the Super League clubs could break away and form their own competition, he said, it would still have to follow FIFA and UEFA rules and guidelines.

The ruling means that the hypothetical 12 European Super League teams would neither be able to compete in the UEFA Champions League nor their own respective domestic leagues if they did move forward with the breakaway project. The ruling ensures that ultimate soccer “what if” will remain just that for the foreseeable future — but don’t expect it to fade away entirely, as this moneyed war is far from over.

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The post EU Court Smacks Down European Super League Claims appeared first on Boardroom.

During a time when roughly $22.1 billion in major professional sports teams are up for sale, it’s easily forgotten that a bunch of major franchises are publicly traded, or alternatively part of a larger parent company listed on the stock exchange.

If you’re a fan of such a franchise (or otherwise believe in their trajectory) and you have a couple of extra bucks lying around, perhaps you’ve already become an official investor. The trend has been relatively more popular to date among the ranks of major European soccer; Manchester United is the most visible among them, but they’re far from the only club that’s gone the publicly listed route.

Let’s get right into our master list of publicly traded sports teams around the world.

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Major Sports Organizations With Publicly Traded Stock

Share prices reflect financial figures as of Dec. 6, 2022.

Manchester United FC (Premier League)

Current Valuation: $4.6 billion
Purchase Value (2005): $1.4 billion
Stock: MANU
Price Per Share: $18.50

The US-based Glazer family, which also owns the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bought Man United 17 years ago and eventually brought them public in 2012. In November, they revealed that they are exploring “strategic alternatives” with regard to a potential sale of some or all of the team.

New York Knicks (NBA)

Current Valuation: $6.1 billion
Purchase Value (1995): $600 million
Stock: MSGS
Price Per Share: $182.78

New York Rangers (NHL)

Current Valuation: $2 billion
Purchase Value (1995): $600 million (in conjunction with Knicks)
Stock: MSGS
Price Per Share: $182.78

Cablevision, originally founded by Charles Dolan, bought out ITT Corp.’s stake in the Knicks and Rangers in 1997, giving the company full control of the teams for the first time. Despite the occasional rumors, don’t expect son James Dolan’s MSG Sports Corp. to sell anytime soon.

Juventus FC (Serie A)

Current Valuation: $2.45 billion
Purchase Value (1923): N/A
Stock: JUVE
Price Per Share: $0.54

The Agnelli family is an Italian dynasty started by Giovanni Agnelli, who was one of the founders of automaker Fiat. They are also primarily known for investing in Ferrari (1969), Lancia (1969), and Alfa Romeo (1986). Juve led Serie A football clubs in total revenue in the 2020-21 season with $515 million.

Atlanta Braves (MLB)

Current Valuation: $2.1 billion
Purchase Value (2007): $400 million
Stock: BATRA
Price Per Share: $34.54

Liberty Media bought the Braves from Time Warner for roughly $400 million in 2007, and set a new revenue record of $568 million in 2021 when they won the World Series. The parent company has future plans to split off the Braves, Truist Park, and the Battery Atlanta mixed-use development surrounding it as a separate stock under a new symbol; $BATRA is not legally distinct from Liberty Media.

Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)

Current Valuation: $1.8 billion
Purchase Value: N/A
Stock: BVB
Price Per Share: $4.7

One of the most successful German soccer clubs, Borussia Dortmund operates through the following segments: Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA, BVB Merchandising GmbH, BVB Event & Catering GmbH, and besttravel dortmund GmbH.

Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)

Current Valuation: $1.78 billion
Purchase Value (2000): $165 million
Stock: RCI
Price Per Share: $64.55

A modest caveat: the $RCI stock refers to Blue Jays owner Rogers Communications, Inc. as a whole; the company includes several other divisions beyond the baseball club, including internet and wireless services, television and radio networks, retail, and a minority share in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which operates the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, NBA’s Raptors, MLS’ Toronto FC, and CFL’s Argonauts.

In 2021, The Globe and Mail noted that Rogers has “talked about raising money by selling all or part of the baseball club,” but so far, we’ve seen no movement on that front. The team’s valuation is quite obviously way, way up since its initial purchase more than two decades ago.

Other Sports Organizations With Listed Stocks

AFC Ajax (AJAX)
SL Benfica (SLBEN)
Celtic FC (CCP)
FC Copenhagen (PARKEN)
FC Istres (MLFCI)
SS Lazio (SSL)
FC Porto (FCP)
AS Roma (ASR)
Sporting CP (SCP)

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The post Taking Stock of the World’s Publicly Traded Sports Teams appeared first on Boardroom.

UPDATE 12/30: Al-Nassr have announced the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. Click here for Boardroom’s full breakdown of his reported contract details with the club.

After a tumultuous, less-than-one-year reunion at his former club, Cristiano Ronaldo is a free agent.

With multiple opportunities available to stay in Europe as well as the possibility of making a move stateside to play in the MLS, a looming question following the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be where the Portuguese star will eventually call home. Those aforementioned destinations sound nice, but money talks. And Ronaldo, who in 2020 became the first active team-sport player to surpass $1 billion in career earnings, reportedly picked up on the first ring.

The decorated athlete is set to agree to a record-breaking $525 million deal with Saudi Arabian football club Al-Nassr FC, according to multiple reports. CR7 will also benefit from a signing bonus and financial incentives from advertising in the reported 2.5-year contract. Should the reports prove to be true, the approximately $210 million annual salary would make Ronaldo the highest-paid athlete in the world.

Though his team has since denied the rumors, it still begs the question: What would a Saudi Arabian club want with a washed-up, 37-year-old influencer who starts every match on the bench? Better yet, who is this somewhat unheard-of club willing to front half a billion dollars for Ronaldo?

Boardroom explores.

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Al-Nassr At a Glance

Ronaldo would arguably be the most well-known face on the roster, but who else boasts some recognition outside of the Saudi Arabian market? Naturally, the squad is made up of mostly Saudi-born athletes, but others have some notoriety outside of the Middle East.

Ghislain Konan, the 28-year-old Ivorian international, plays left back for the club, while former Villareal and Marseille center back Álvaro González Soberón joined the club in August 2022 on a one-year deal. Finally, Vincent Aboubakar, the forward who helped Cameroon become the only African side to defeat Brazil at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, rounds out the more well-known players on the squad.

Last year, Al-Nassr finished third behind Al-Ittihad and champions Al-Hilal. In the King Cup, they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Al-Hilal. In the AFC Champions League, Al-Nassr made it to the semifinals but were once again defeated by Al-Hilal.

Al-Nassr Club History & Accolades

Founded in 1955, Al-Nassr FC are based in Saudi’s capital Riyadh. Nicknamed Al-Aalami (The International Club) or Faris Najd (Knights of Najd), the Saudi Pro League club has won:

• Nine domestic titles
• Six King’s Cups
• Three Crown Prince’s Cups
• Three Federation Cups
• Two Saudi Super Cups

Currently second in the table behind Al-Shabab, the team is managed by Rudi José Garcia. A former midfielder, Garcia’s previous managerial stints include Serie A club Roma and Ligue 1 organizations Marseille and Lyon. Al-Nassr’s home colors are yellow and blue and they play at the King Saud University Stadium, otherwise known as Mrsool Park. Contrary to the historical aspect that was Old Trafford, Mrsool Park was built between 2011-2014 and opened in May 2015.

What’s the Fit for Ronaldo at Al-Nassr?

Besides being the most experienced and decorated person on the team, Ronaldo’s presence brings somewhat of a winning mentality. Throughout his storied career, he’s notched records that won’t be broken for decades and individual trophies that most clubs would only dream of collectively winning. Previous teammates have lauded the privilege of playing alongside him, and Ronaldo’s been coached by some of the best managers in football.

However, we’ve all been witness to Ronaldo’s wrath these last few months. The chastising of current United boss Erik ten Hag. The storming off the pitch when things remotely don’t go his way. There’s a reason why most European clubs don’t want the liability of him in the dressing room. A fantastic player does not translate into a suitable leader, and many feel Ronaldo’s attitude is not worth the headache and eventual tongue-lashing that could follow.

Still, the father of six could enter Saudi Arabia with allies on his side. Out of the 15 members of Al-Nassr’s technical staff, 11 are Portuguese. Not to mention, he could bring some television coverage to markets outside the Middle East.

There’s a curious appeal as to whether Ronaldo will succeed in Saudi Arabia. Regardless of the money and the undeniable attention he’ll receive during his tenure, if this rumor is eventually confirmed, the desire to wonder if one of the greatest to ever play can transform a rather unknown club into international dominance will not go unnoticed.

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The post Everything You Need to Know About Al-Nassr appeared first on Boardroom.

It seems like every sale of a pro sports franchise comes with a record price tag. Recently, the Denver Broncos sold for a record-high $4.65 billion, the New York Mets for $2.4 billion in 2020, and the Brooklyn Nets for $2.35 billion in 2019.

With news breaking that the Glazer family is looking to sell Manchester United, there’s now about $22.1 billion worth of teams on the market across five of the biggest pro sports in the world.

Let’s get right into it.

Manchester United

Projected Worth: $4.6 billion

The Glazer family bought United 17 years back and revealed last week that it’s looking for “strategic alternatives” in regards to selling the team, instructing a private bank to handle the sale. There’s currently no timetable, though reports indicate they might wrap it up sometime “this season.”

Potential Buyers

• Sir Jim Ratcliffe: A chemical engineer and businessman from the UK, Ratcliffe said in August that he’d buy the team if it is up for sale.
• Jim O’Neill: The former chief economist for Goldman Sachs is reportedly interested in purchasing if the price lowers. 12 years ago, he tried buying the team with Sir Paul Marshall.

Then there’s… Elon Musk?

Liverpool FC

Projected Worth: $4.45 billion

Owners from Fenway Sports Group are ‘likely’ to only sell part of the club. Last month, the ownership group announced it was looking for new investors after 12 years of ownership, though the latest news on this front is that they want a new investor or investors to join FSG and inject more capital.

Potential Investor

• Josh Harris and David Blitzer: One report claims that Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) would be interested in a potential investment with FSG. Jacobs reports other potential suitors, though the latest news regarding a partial sale makes it difficult to pin down specific names/groups.

Washington Commanders

Projected Worth: $5.6 billion

The NFL would like this to happen ASAP for several reasons, but there’s still no indication about whether disgraced owner Dan Snyder intends to sell the franchise in full or seek investors for a minority stake. He and his wife Tanya hired an investment bank to explore all options. There is no shortage of interested suitors here, so we’re gonna keep this brief.

Potential Buyers

• Jeff Bezos: The former president of Amazon is currently worth $119.9 billion and has been linked to the Commanders and Seahawks, heck, even the Broncos before they were sold. When asked about the matter, Bezos said he can’t talk about it, but he’s heard the “buzz.” In the interview, his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez said, “I do like football” to which Bezos replied, “There’s not much I can say about that right now. But she does like football.”

Not quite “happy wife, happy life” but it’s pretty darn close.

• Jay-Z: The legendary hip-hop artist turned sports agent (not a businessman — a business, man) reportedly had dinner with Bezos in Los Angeles in early November, around the same time the Snyders made the announcement.

Los Angeles Angels

Projected Worth: $2.2 billion

Angels owner Arte Moreno announced in August that it was time to sell the team after 20 long, mostly underwhelming seasons. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said he expects “robust bidding” for the franchise with numerous potential buyers. Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Moreno should receive a “record price, above Steve Cohen’s $2.4 billion Mets purchase.”

Potential Buyers:

• Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong: He’s the owner of the Los Angeles Times, and partnered with Steve Cohen to try to buy the L.A. Dodgers back in 2012. Don’t be surprised if he nabs the other team from Los Angeles.
• Joe Lacob: Currently the owner of the Golden State Warriors, Lacob grew up rooting for the Angels and didn’t deny interest in the club.

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Washington Nationals

Projected Worth: $2 billion

Another Washington sports team for sale! The Lerner family bought the Washington Nationals back in 2006, and reports came out in April that they intend to fully sell. How about another Washington team owner buys in? That’s what it sounds like.

Potential Buyer

• Ted Leonsis: The 65-year-old already owns the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals, and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. Per The Athletic, Leonsis is the front-runner to buy the Nationals, although nothing is “imminent.”

If he buys, he’d be the most important man in DC outside the line of succession.

Phoenix Suns

Projected Worth: $2.7 billion

Here’s another example of “the league would like this to happen ASAP.” Disgraced owner Robert Sarver was forced to put the team on the market after the NBA instituted a private investigation. The findings, as defined by the league, stated that Sarver “engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards, as reflected in team and League rules and policies. This conduct included the use of racially insensitive language; unequal treatment of female employees; sex-related statements and conduct; and harsh treatment of employees that on occasion constituted bullying.”

• Bob Iger: Disney’s CEO is an interesting name to watch here. He reportedly expressed interest in purchasing the Suns during the 2021-22 season. Keep in mind, Iger has a solid reputation with the league, particularly when he helped facilitate the NBA bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Oh, and Disney owns ESPN.

Ottawa Senators

Projected Worth: $525 million

Not long after owner Eugene Melnyk passed away in March 2022, his family hired a New York-based bank to provide advice and assistance in selling the team. In November, the team stated one condition for the sale: The team would have to stay in the Ottawa area.

Potential Buyer

• Ryan Reynolds: The Canadian actor confirmed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” that he is indeed interested in buying the Senators, but he needs some help digging up some money to do so. “It’s very expensive, so I need a partner with very deep pockets,” he said.

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The post An Overview of the Major Sports Franchises on the Market appeared first on Boardroom.

UPDATE 12/30: Al-Nassr has announced the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. Click here for Boardroom’s full breakdown of his reported contract details with the club.

UPDATE 12/5: Spanish outlet MARCA reports that a 2.5-year deal worth approximately $200 million per season has been agreed.

Fifty years ago in The Godfather, Marlon Brando’s Don Vito Corleone pledged to make a Hollywood bigshot an offer he can’t refuse. On Wednesday, Saudi Arabian soccer club Al-Nassr FC are reportedly attempting to do their own version with newly-minted free agent Cristiano Ronaldo.

Notably, there are several conflicting narratives out there as of this writing regarding the actual years and money Al-Nassr have placed on the table — they include:

• Rob Dawson of ESPN: A deal worth more than £100 million ($119.27 million) per year through 2025-26; no decision would be made until after the World Cup in Qatar
• Fabrizio Romano: An offer of nearly €200 million ($206.27 million) per year through 2024-25, but no deal signed
• José Félix Díaz of MARCA: A deal worth more than €200 million per year through 2024-25 that’s said to be “close” to being signed

No matter who or what you believe, if you believe it at all, the record-breaking offer for the 37-year-old Portuguese legend is astronomical and unprecedented.

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Al-Nassr, founded in 1955, are based in the Saudi capital of Riyadh and members of the Saudi Pro League. They’ve been league winners nine times, most recently in 2018-19, and finished third in the table last season. Many of their technical staffers are Portuguese, including several assistant coaches and youth coaches.

Before Ronaldo and Manchester United mutually agreed to terminate his contract last week, he was making approximately $600,000 per week. Boardroom previously laid out which teams were most likely to sign CR7, and arguments were primarily predicated on the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wanting to play Champions League football. But along with the possibility of him signing with Major League Soccer — something GOAT debate counterpart Lionel Messi is reportedly also weighing after his Paris Saint-Germain contract runs out — the only suitor outside Europe we listed was a hypothetical mega-offer from a Middle East team that would blow everyone else out of the water.

And now, here we are.

Would Ronaldo really leave Europe to take a Godfather offer from a team like Al-Nassr? There likely won’t be a resolution here until Portugal‘s World Cup run ends; until then, we can only speculate on whether Ronaldo can truly resist what has a chance to end up becoming the largest athlete contract in the history of professional sports.

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The post Cristiano Ronaldo to Al-Nassr? CR7 Receives Massive Contract Offer From Saudi Club appeared first on Boardroom.

In the midst of several different types of FIFA World Cup chaos, one of the most successful European clubs managed to grab headlines for a few hours. On Tuesday, Manchester United announced that veteran striker Cristiano Ronaldo would be leaving the club with “immediate effect.” The Portuguese international had previously scathing comments about not only current manager Erik ten Hag, but also the club and its ownership in general in a primetime gossip session with Piers Morgan earlier this month.

Hours after the separation was made public, the club then revealed that the controlling Glazer family (which also owns the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is “commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club.”

Basically, United’s often-toxic American owners of 17 years are finally open to relinquishing some amount of control of the storied club. After years of displeasure and embarrassment, supporters young and old can look forward to brighter days ahead.

Well, maybe.

The winning campaigns United have had during the Glazers’ reign do not negate the fact they had no real sporting reason to go near the club nearly two decades ago. In fact, their rather hostile acquisition of the Red Devils was a surefire sign things were headed in a downward trajectory.

Malcolm Glazer assumed complete control of the club in June 2005. It was all much to the chagrin of the fanbase, as it was supported primarily through loans secured against the club’s existing assets. One year following the leveraged buyout, Glazer suffered two strokes, after which his six children — Avram, Joel, Bryan, Kevin, Darcie, and Edward — subsequently took over United’s operations. Each one secured a position on the club’s Board of Directors.

To add insult to injury, United were debt-free before the purchase, and the £790 million ($950.8 million) takeover by the Glazer family didn’t just put the club into the red temporarily — all these years later, they’re still carrying a reported debt load of approximately £500 million ($602.15 million).

The effects of a lack of sustainable liquidity have also trickled down to United’s infrastructure and facilities. Old Trafford, affectionately known as the Theatre of Dreams, no longer boasts the same charming appeal fans love or the intimidating reputation opponents fear. Attending a football match at a historic venue should feel like a luxury experience, but the thought of sitting at home is now perhaps more attractive than cramming yourself in too-small seats under a roof that leaks during as little as a light pregame mist.

Sure, the silverware room is filled with a mountain of Premier League trophies, 12 FA Cups, UEFA Champions League hardware, a Europa League triumph, and much more, but the club has failed to collect any major hardware since 2017, a drought even the biggest United hater can’t fathom. Meanwhile, crosstown rivals Manchester City have built one of the most attractive-looking stadiums for their world-class players and have won four of the last five Premier League titles.

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Particularly with regard to the difference in on-field quality compared to their Manchester rivals or age-old foes Liverpool, personnel difficulties may be the single most glaring aspect of all this Glazer family mismanagement. Despite the likes of Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Robin van Persie, Paul Pogba, and more donning the iconic red and white kit under current ownership, United have increasingly missed out on must-have talent on the transfer market in recent years.

Even when they splashed €105 million ($108.86 million) to buy Pogba back from Juventus in 2016 — a move that made history as the biggest transfer fee in football history — they failed to surround the midfielder with complementary talent to challenge their Big Six peers for trophies. Instead, United have unsuccessfully played the nostalgia card, offering a few too many past-their-prime players a starring role in hopes of recapturing old magic.

Sure, nobody is aching to man-mark Zlatan Ibrahimović on a corner kick, but a 35-year-old Zlatan won’t win you a title like an ascendant Mohamed Salah or Kevin De Bruyne will.

Addressing managerial troubles, meanwhile, would require an entirely separate article. In the decade since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired, United have cycled through eight bosses when both caretakers and full-timers are included. The Glazers have made it difficult for any gaffer to succeed post-Fergie, as each is forced to remedy too many of the mistakes of his predecessor before addressing the actual agenda items that landed them the role in the first place. From David Moyes to (perhaps) incumbent manager Erik ten Hag, United have a nasty way of dumping their leader at the slightest inconvenience without any consideration of who takes the wheel next, and how.

No wonder the calls for #GlazersOut have only gotten louder and louder.

Despite sitting a not-so-unreasonable fifth on the Premier League table during the 2022 World Cup break, United are nonetheless one of the laughingstocks of European football due to such an omnibus of unforced errors.

Prospects may very well look at Paul Pogba’s descent over the course of his second stint with the club and decide they don’t want to run the risk of experiencing the same. Supporters (myself included) are left wondering if we’ll ever taste championship success even one more time. Hundreds of millions have been wasted on disjointed squads, yet a brand new one has got to be considered necessary if Champions League success is to be realized up against titans like Real Madrid. Shocking losses against bottom-table clubs only strengthen arguments against the Glazer family continuing on as any sort of equity stakeholder in the organization, to say nothing of a superficial transfer strategy that feels straight out of EA Sports’ FIFA career mode.

The list of grievances is longer than United’s trophy drought. Naturally, it’s tempting for supporters to seize upon even the smallest chance that a new day could be coming.

The Glazers might very well be on their way out soon, as reports suggest they could fetch upwards of $4.5 billion in a sale — but United’s problems are far from over. At a time when owners across multiple leagues are being exposed for putting profit over performance, these owners have entirely earned the backlash.

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The post The Glazer Family, Manchester United & Football Versus the Fans appeared first on Boardroom.

As his (presumably) final FIFA World Cup campaign begins, one of the greatest soccer players of all time is suddenly a free agent.

On Tuesday, Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United mutually agreed to part ways after a tumultuous season-and-a-half in which he made 54 total appearances across all competitions, registering 27 goals and five assists. The 37-year-old was supposed to have a storybook ending to a legendary career that saw him spend six incredible years at Old Trafford between 2003 and ’09, cementing his global superstar status. But clashes with management and teammates doomed his tenure, especially when the spat became public.

Ronaldo refused to enter an October match against Tottenham as a sub, leading to a suspension from United manager Erik ten Haag. The last straw for the club appeared to be a 90-minute TV interview with Piers Morgan in which he said the club betrayed him, he has no respect for his manager, and that he’s better looking than him, among other things.

On Tuesday, Cristiano Ronaldo and Man United terminated the player’s contract by mutual consent.

Click here for Boardroom’s deep dive on Ronaldo’s now-cancelled contract with the Red Devils.

Now that the CR7 soap opera in Salford is over, it’s time to get to the fun part: speculating where the Portuguese icon is headed next in the January transfer window. Keep in mind that at United, Ronaldo was the highest-paid player in the Premier League, making an absurd £515,000 per week, so while everyone could use someone as good as Cristiano, very few teams could even dream of actually affording him.

Let’s get to the specifics.

Chelsea

New Blues owner Todd Boehly wants a splash, and what bigger splash would there be than bringing Ronaldo to West London? Chelsea already have a potent attacking group headlined by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, and Christian Pulisic. And after seeing what happened with ten Haag, is Ronaldo worth the risk for new manager Graham Potter?

Sporting CP

Could Ronaldo go to back to Lisbon where his pro career first began? The team reportedly said it can’t afford his current wages, but if CR7 agrees to take a pay cut, it makes sense. He’d be the undisputed face of his boyhood club and competing in the final 16 of the UEFA Champions League, an unavoidable item on his list of demands for any new club.

Manchester City

Yes, it sounds insane. It also almost happened over the summer.

Word had it that when Ronaldo was leaving Juventus, he had actually picked City — until former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson convinced him to come home instead of bolting for the Noisy Neighbors. The reigning Premier League champs have also dramatically improved on the attack with the addition of Erling Haaland, the world’s foremost goal scorer right now; would Ronaldo’s addition actually improve the flow of things at the Etihad Stadium, or unnecessarily muddy the waters?

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Paris Saint-Germain

We could see it now. Kylian Mbappe. Lionel Messi. Neymar. Ronaldo. ON THE SAME TEAM. It would break the world football discourse. But would there be too many cooks in the kitchen for PSG? The content, though, would be tremendous.

Bayern Munich

The Bavarian titans do have a void of sorts at striker after Robert Lewandowski left for Barcelona during the summer, especially with Sadio Mane and Leroy Sané currently injured. It would admittedly be rather un-Bayern-like to make a move like this for someone at this stage of his career, but let’s not totally rule it out.

Napoli

The buzz around the Italian club is that there’s interest in Ronaldo, who can pair with young Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen and Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskeliha and slot right into Champions League play. But would he really return to Italy for what could very well be the official end of his club career?

Major League Soccer

Consider the ability of David Beckham to lure Ronaldo to be the face of Inter Miami and become the biggest star the league’s ever seen — he would be an awfully nice insurance policy in case those Lionel Messi rumors never come to fruition. Perhpas he would be up to join former Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale with the defending MLS Cup champion LAFC instead.

Middle East

Cristinao Ronaldo is, of course, in Qatar competing for Portugal in the World Cup, and there would be no shortage of teams or countries like Saudi Arabia trying to lure him with an absurd offer in the neighborhood of £350 million.

While we don’t know where Ronaldo ends up next, it could go down as one of the biggest and most impactful January transfers we’ve ever seen. Not a bad bit of side drama and intrigue while we watch the biggest tournament in sports play out.

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The post Cristiano Ronaldo is Done at Manchester United. Where Does He Go From Here? appeared first on Boardroom.

UPDATE 12/30: Saudi club Al-Nassr officially announced Ronaldo’s signing. Click here for the full reported details of his new contract.

UPDATE 11/22: Ronaldo’s contract with Manchester United has been terminated by mutual consent. Click here to read the full story from Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the most capped player and all-time top goalscorer in Portuguese soccer history. He’s also FIFA’s leading scorer in men’s international football history with 115 goals. However, despite his status as an untouchable deity in Portugal’s starting lineup with a EURO 2016 title to his name, his country has yet to win a FIFA World Cup, with its best all-time finish of third place in 1966. At the club level, his lack of high-leverage game time at Manchester United hasn’t stopped the Red Devils from reestablishing a solid run of form under new gaffer Erik ten Haag.

Heading into Qatar 2022, Ronaldo’s peak days of goal and assist contributions were already understood to be behind him, but don’t let anyone tell you that the 37-year-old doesn’t have any more tricks up his sleeve. The influence of CR7 on the pitch was always going to be vital to the Seleção at Qatar 2022.

All told, the icon’s future at Manchester United was already uncertain And with stated past desires to play elsewhere — to say nothing of an explosive interview with Piers Morgan that produced screamingly-loud headlines — it will be fascinating to follow along as the declining megastar either does or doesn’t garner sufficient interest from a willing club in the weeks or months to follow.

In the meantime, reports emerged at entering the 2022 World Cup’s opening weekend that the Red Devils have asked Ronaldo not to return to team facilities after the tournament, and that they may consider suing the player over breach of contract to void the entire pact altogether.

With that in mind, let’s look at Man United’s Cristiano Ronaldo salary and contract details as they hang in the balance.

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Cristiano Ronaldo Man United Contract & Wages

All financial figures via Capology unless otherwise noted.

Years: 2 (club option for 2023-24)
Total value: $63,067,949.83 (£53,600,000)
Salary per year: $31,533,975 (£26,800,000)
Wage per week: $593,018 (£515,000)
Free agency: 2023

If that 2023-24 club option were to be exercised, this deal officially becomes three years and £80,400,000. That’s not at all likely at this point, but no matter how you slice it, that Ronaldo salary you just witnessed is the highest in the entire Premier League. To put things into perspective, his average annual wage of $31,533,975 comfortably trumps the second-place money ($24,691,798) heading into the pockets of Manchester City and Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. All told, CR7 is raking in weekly paychecks of over half a million dollars each.

Cristiano Ronaldo Transfer History

Aug. 2021: Juventus (Italy – Serie A) to Manchester United (England – Premier League)

• Transfer fee: $17.64 million

Jul. 2018: Real Madrid (Spain – La Liga) to Juventus (Italy – Serie A)

• Transfer fee: $121.37 million

Jul. 2009: Manchester United (England – Premier League) to Real Madrid (Spain – La Liga)

• Transfer fee: $97.51 million

Aug. 2002: Sporting CP (Portugal – Primeira Liga) to Manchester United (England – Premier League)

• Transfer fee: $19.71 million

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The post Cristiano Ronaldo Man United Contract & Salary Breakdown appeared first on Boardroom.

UPDATE 11/18: Multiple reports indicate that Manchester United have asked Ronaldo not to return to team facilities after the World Cup, and that they may additionally sue him over breach of contract.

UPDATE 11/22: Ronaldo’s contract with Man United has been terminated by mutual consent. Click here to read the full story from Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung.

Cristiano Ronaldo is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. As he gears up for his fifth World Cup, the once-celebrated forward is taking aim at the club where his legacy began. In sitting down for a tell-all with Piers Morgan for British television, the iconic footballer chastised Manchester United for making what was meant to be a storybook reunion into anything but. The interview dropped in two parts this week, with the second arriving Nov. 17, but Morgan — ever eager to be the center of attention — released a few teaser clips a bit early.

Within the conversation, CR7 detailed his disdain for current United manager Erik ten Haag, heaped on the praise for former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and likened the criticism he receives to jealousy.

“I still believe that the jealousy is part of that [criticism]. They want to cover many things that helps to shine other things. But listen, I know I’m 21 years in [the] top of the game, so I know all the takes, so for me, it’s not a problem,” he told Morgan.

It’s not the sort of distraction Fernando Santos’ Portugal side were hoping for as they chase a first-ever World Cup trophy in Qatar.

Since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson retired nearly a decade ago, Man United have been in a bit of disarray, so Ronaldo isn’t exactly wrong in his basic assessment of the team, and given that the team and its fans alike had long grown accustomed to Premier League royalty status, feelings of frustration are natural. However, Ronaldo loses the plot when he fails to acknowledge his own shortcomings.

On the tail end of an undisputed storied career, it’s astonishing everyone’s to blame except himself — especially in recent matches that have increasingly showcased teammates outperforming the so-called GOAT.

As he prepares to compete in what is likely to be his final World Cup, there’s a lot more intrigue surrounding Ronaldo than simply how Portugal will fare in the tournament, which finds them in a winnable Group H. It’s likely the five-time Ballon d’Or winner played his final match for United before this extended international break, too, but where does that leave him when club play resumes after Christmas?

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Come January, United are prepared to make Ronaldo available on a free transfer, presumably via termination of his contract by mutual consent; in fact, ESPN reports United granted him a free departure during the summer transfer window earlier this year. With a resume any footballer could dream of rivaling, clubs across Europe and even stateside would be lucky to have Ronaldo’s expertise on the pitch. Problem is, the former Real Madrid and Juventus star has separated the skill from the attitude, and right now, the latter is what fans and prospective teams are unfortunately focusing on, to say nothing of his massive wage demands that currently find him taking home over half a million dollars per week.

Once he heals from a stomach bug, it’s quite possible that we’ll be treated to bits of master-class, vintage Ronaldo in Qatar. We’ll soon be reminded why he’s collected seven league titles and five champions league trophies. Hell, perhaps some will briefly forget about this explosive sit-down opposite someone with a similarly sizable ego. But will his eventual new home risk signing an athlete whose happiness is reliant on always getting his way? Is it worth passing on, say, a teenage wunderkind in favor of a forward whose goal-scoring capability is no longer set-it-and-forget-it?

All told, it’s up to Ronaldo himself prove he’s not as much of a burden as it’s so easy to perceive him to be right now — and that he can still deliver goals by the bushel. It’s an uphill battle regardless, and not one worth taking the gamble if the objective is to eliminate dramatics in the locker room and make winning a habit.

One of the first things we learn as fans is that no player is bigger than the club. Regardless of the amount of hardware you deliver to fill a trophy room, supporters expect better than unleashing scathing assessments when things don’t go your way. With all this in mind, the 2022 World Cup may be the final chance for Ronaldo to prove he’s still an exceptional soccer star, as he’ll have quite literally the entire world watching him starting next Thursday against Ghana.

Yes, his legacy is forever cemented in soccer history. He may very well go down as the GOAT, especially if he claims one more trophy in Qatar. But the respect that’s meant to arrive in tandem with such achievements may already be gone.

Click here for Boardroom’s full breakdown of Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Man United.

2022 Portugal World Cup Games (Group H)

Nov. 24 vs Ghana, 11:00 a.m ET

Nov. 28 vs. Uruguay, 2 p.m. ET

Dec. 2 vs. South Korea, 10 a.m. ET

Ronaldo World Cup History

Tournaments: 5 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
Best finish: Fourth (2006)
Games played: 17
Minutes played: 1,474
Goals scored: 7
Assists: 2

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The post Cristiano Ronaldo: What’s on the Line for the Portugal Legend at the World Cup? appeared first on Boardroom.

It may be your feeling that Lionel Messi remains the single best footballer on earthplanet. You may be fully aboard the Karim Benzema hype train thanks to his mid-30s Ballon d’Or renaissance. Alternatively, you could be a total hipster with a tattoo of, like, Jack Grealish or Bukayo Saka on your hind parts.

And then there’s Ronaldo. No, we don’t have to talk about Ronaldo.

That brings us to an intriguing topic, however — with international soccer’s January transfer window opening up just two weeks after the conclusion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which stars of the game are poised to reveal themselves as undervalued assets on the open market? Alternatively, who’s increasingly getting by on the strength of their name with less and less sheer virtuosity to back it up?

With that in mind, we checked in with Transfermarkt’s extensive compendium of estimated player values to get a sense of who the most expensive World Cup teams truly are here and now in 2022.

(No, the USMNT is sadly not No. 1 — but they’re not dead-last in the field of 32, either!)

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World Cup Team Values: Qatar 2022

World Cup squad values are based on Transfermarkt’s combined estimated player market values. Teams are not necessarily limited to 26-man 2022 World Cup rosters.

€1,000,000,000 and above

1. ENGLAND: €1.26 billion ($1.31B)

• MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Manchester City CM Phil Foden (€110,000,000)
• Most valuable forward: Tottenham ST Harry Kane (€90,000,000)
• Most valuable midfielder: Foden
• Most valuable defender: Liverpool RB Trent Alexander-Arnold (€70,000,000)
• Most valuable goalkeeper: Arsenal G Aaron Ramsdale (€30,000,000)

2. BRAZIL: €1.14 billion ($1.18B)

• MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Real Madrid LW Vinicius Junior (€120,000,000)
• Most valuable forward: Vinicius
• Most valuable midfielder: Newcastle CDM Bruno Guimarães (€60,000,000)
• Most valuable defender: Paris Saint-Germain CB Marquinhos (€70,000,000)
• Most valuable goalkeeper: Liverpool G Alisson (€50,000,000)