Manchester United fans experienced one of the most spectacular comebacks in European history yesterday when they beat Olympique Lyonnais 5-4 in extra-time.
The Red Devils looked down and out when they went 2-4 down after 110 minutes but they somehow mustered the spirit of great United teams of the past and rattled in three unanswered goals to win the match and tie.
United fans are desperate to win a trophy in what has been an appalling domestic season and now just three games stand in their way before this can become a reality.
According to football finance guru Swiss Ramble, the Red Devils had already pocketed €22.7 million in prize money by making it through the group stages.
Add to this the €2.5m for reaching the quarter final and €4.2m for reaching the semi-final where they will take on Athletic Club in May, the total earned so far by United is €29.4m.
A place in the final would guarantee an extra €7 million and winning the entire competition would see the Red Devils earn €13 million.
If they do lift the trophy, their total earnings from the competition will therefore have reached €42.4 million – around £36 million GBP.
According to The Athletic, the real economic prize of Champions League football would end up so much more than just the Europa League prize money.
“United could expect to walk away with more than £85 million by qualifying for Champions League football in the 2025-26 season,” the outlet says.
This figure is reached through a variety of different prizes. United would initially receive £16 million, as all clubs who begin the 32 team league stage are awarded this sum.
They would also receive money from UEFA’s “value pillar”, which sees clubs paid money for their previous performances in the Champions League.
Ruben Amorim’s side would also stand to make substantial figures from the four home games they would play as part of the league stage.
The club could expect to make something in the region of £21 million from their matches at Old Trafford next season were they to qualify.
Adding these figures to the Europa League prize money means that success in Bilbao guarantees United will have made £121 million from this season’s European odyssey.
These earnings and projected revenue could be crucial in the rebuild that Amorim wants to carry out this summer.
United will certainly make signings this upcoming window regardless of whether they win the Europa League or not. Nonetheless, an extra £121 million in the kitty would transform their summer plans dramatically.
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
