By Ian Herbert For Mailonline
Published: 00:01 GMT, 24 January 2019 | Updated: 00:01 GMT, 24 January 2019
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Jose Mourinho's struggle for success at Manchester United has seen Real Madrid replace the club as the continent's biggest earners and allowed Manchester City to narrow the earnings gap on their neighbours by a massive £40m.
United had been top of the Deloitte Money League for the previous two years but despite a return to the Champions League did not venture beyond the round of 16, so Real and Barcelona have leapfrogged them as Europe's top two earners in the table.
United did increase their revenues by getting back into the Champions League - but by only two per cent to £590m, a smaller rise than any club in the Deloitte top five. Match-day and general commercial revenues were both down and income from UEFA roughly similar to the previous year, when they won the Europa League.
La Liga giants Real Madrid have replaced Manchester United as Europe's biggest earners
City, meanwhile, increased all revenues, closing the earnings gap on United in a single season from £128m in 2016-17 to £87m this time. Gradually, City have chipped away at what was a huge class divide when the Abu Dhabis first bought the club. A decade ago, United had more than three times City's annual earning power: £324m compared to £104m.
The Deloitte report commentary said United's on-field performances would have to improve if they are to catch up the two Spanish giants. 'Improved first team performance will drive increased Premier League and UEFA distributions and enhance the potential to negotiate improved commercial deals.'
The narrowing of the traditional commercial class divide in Manchester is reflected
