Football has never been this popular as it is today. With the influx of Russian tycoons and Arab billionaires, more money has been pouring in into the European leagues. Television deals are becoming even more lucrative and newer and bigger stadiums are being constructed to accommodate more fans and sell more tickets. Chelsea was one of the first to benefit from being an investment toy of a billionaire when Roman Abramovich bought the club in the mid 2000s. Other clubs have followed suit, including Manchester City, Paris St. Germain and Malaga.

But which clubs are actually selling the tickets and the merchandise and landing the great media deals? Which clubs earn the most selling to sponsors the front part of the player’s shirts? Which clubs are the richest in terms of revenue?

The accountancy firm Deloitte has provided us with the answer. Here are the top 10 wealthiest football teams in the world in terms of revenue from their football operations.

10. Juventus – €195 million

 

It is also known as The Old Lady or The White-Blacks after its uniform design. Juventus is the third oldest club in Italian football and the most successful. It has won 53 titles in both national and international tournaments, including 28 league crowns, nine Italian Cups and two European Champion’s League titles. It was established in 1897 and plays its home game at the Juventus Stadium that can accommodate 41,000 fans.

9. Liverpool – €233 million

 

Liverpool is one of the most successful clubs out of England. It has won five European Cups, the most by an English team. It also has won 18 league titles and seven FA Cups. It was established in 1892 and has played its home games in Anfield since that time. The stadium can accommodate 45,522 fans. The Reds have long-standing rivalries with Manchester United and its neighbors Everton.

8. AC Milan – €257 million

 

In terms of international football titles, AC Milan is the most successful club in the world with 18 trophies, a distinction it shares with Boca Juniors of Argentina. It has won the European Cup/Champion’s League seven times, the Italian league 18 times and the Italian Cup five times. The club, also known as the Rossoneri, was formed in 1899. It has its home in San Siro, a stadium that can accommodate 80,018 fans.

7. Manchester City – €286 million

 

Also known as The Sky Blues, Manchester City was formed in 1880 as St Mark’s, before changing its name to Manchester City in 1894. The club has won the league title three times and the FA Cup five times. It also won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970, its only major European title to date. It plays its home games at the City of Manchester Stadium that has a capacity of 47,726 fans.

6. Arsenal – €290 million

 

The team is also known as The Gunners, Arsenal was formed in 1886 and was initially known as Dial Square. It has won 13 league titles and 10 FA Cups. It holds the record as being the only team to ever go through an entire league season of 38 games without tasting defeat, a feat it achieved in the 2003-04 season. It plays its home games at the Emirates Stadium that has a capacity of 60,361 fans. It holds the English record for longest uninterrupted stay at the top flight with 85 consecutive seasons.

5. Chelsea – €323 million

 

Chelsea is also known as The Blues. It was founded in 1905 and plays its home games in Stamford Bridge that has a seating capacity of 41,837. The team has won the league title four times, the FA Cup seven times and the Champion’s League once. It has also won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup twice and the UEFA Super Cup once.

4. Bayern Munich – €368 million

 

Bayern Munich is considered to be the most successful club to come out of Germany. Also called the Bavarians, the team was formed in 1900 and plays its home games at the Allianz Arena that has a capacity of 71,137. It has won 22 league titles, as well as 15 German Cups. It has also won four European Cups or Champions League, winning three straight years from 1974 to 1976 before bagging its fourth in 2001.

3. Manchester United – €396 million

 

Manchester United, also known as The Red Devils, was formed in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR Football Club. It changed its name in 1902 to Manchester United and moved to Old Trafford in 1910. Its stadium can accommodate up to 75,765 fans. It holds the record in England for most number of league titles with 19. It also holds the record for most number of FA Cups with 11. It also has won three Champions League or European Cups, though it is only second in England next to its bitter rival Liverpool. It is considered to be one of the wealthiest and most widely supported teams in the world. Its actual value is estimated to be over $3 billion.

2. Barcelona – €483 million

 

Barcelona is the team of some of the current greatest player in the world, Lionel Messi. Also called Barca or Blaugrana, the team is known for its flawless and entertaining style of game. It was formed in 1899 as  Foot-ball Club Barcelona and plays its home games at the Camp Nou, which has a capacity of up to 99,354 fans. Its supporters actually own and operate the team. The team has won 21 league titles, 26 Spanish Cups and four European Cups or Champions League. It holds the European record for most consecutive years of playing European-wide tournaments at 58.

1. Real Madrid – €513 million

 

Real Madrid was formed in 1902 and plays its home games at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu with a capacity of 85,454 fans. Like Barcelona, it has never been relegated from the top division, an honor also shared by Athletic Bilbao. It has won a record 32 league titles, 18 Spanish Cups and nine European Cups or Champions League.

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De Rossi wants football to grab headlines in Coppa Italia final

The Italy midfielder says the reputation of the derby has suffered following ugly scenes between supporters, but wants on-pitch matters to be the talking points on Sunday

Daniele De Rossi hopes it will be the football and not the off-field incidents involving fans which will grab the headlines when Roma and Lazio clash in the Coppa Italia final.

Matches between the two sides have been marred by violent scenes and the Giallorossi midfielder is hoping to avoid a repeat of events which saw two people stabbed in Rome prior to the Serie A derby in April. 

The Italy international wants there to be a celebratory atmosphere at Stadio Olimpico which he believes would go some way to repairing the damaged reputation of football in the city whilst is also upbeat about Roma's chances.

"I am confident ahead of the derby," the 29-year-old told Corriere dello Sport. "It is going to be a good party. There are many people who want to come to the stadium hoping to celebrate and I hope that they will leave all the guns and knives at home."

De Rossi is also aware that the players have to lead by example, however, in the last five matches there have been eight red cards shared between the two sides. De Rossi is hoping that tally won't be added to this weekend.
 
"We know that the game is highly charged and on the pitch we must be the first not to overdo it because that might trigger something unpleasant, that should not be the case at all," he continued. "Everyone, especially for me as a Roman, would like to see a great test of maturity on the part of the city.

"We want to win and play well because we know how important it is, but there is also a lot of responsibility because there cannot be flaring tempers.

"This game can be an excuse to improve the image of a city like Rome, and Italian football in general, not make it worse."

Roma is going for an all-time record of Coppa Italia success and will go into double figures with a win against their fiercest rivals on Sunday.

'Champions League failure would've been a disaster for Milan' - Gandini

The AC Milan director has expressed his concern at the financial implications should teams not manage to qualify for Europe's premier club competition.

AC Milan director Umberto Gandini has expressed his relief at the club’s Champions League qualification, suggesting that failure to secure a spot in the competition is now a "disaster" for Europe’s top clubs.

The Rossoneri sealed Italy's final qualification slot on the final day of the Serie A season with a 2-1 victory over Siena, a result that Gandini believes was hugely important to the club’s short-term future.

"Had we not qualified it would have been a financial disaster," he told BBC Sport. "Such a disaster could affect most clubs."

"We still have to navigate the play-offs," he continued. "Winning that tie is the difference between having an extra 30m euros or not. There's so much at stake - a fifth of our budget."

Grandini, who is also vice chairman of the European Club Association, went on to reveal he believes the disparity of the financial rewards on offer to those taking part in the Europa League rather than the Champions League is an issue which will soon be addressed.

"This is something that will be mentioned at the next European Club Association meeting when we start to talk about new financial distribution models for the 2015-18 UEFA cycle," he said.

"We will look to reduce the financial gap in various ways with perhaps a more even distribution of monies between both competitions so that it lessens the impact on the Europa League teams who fail to qualify for the Champions League."

Though the winner of the Europa League earn 10.5m euros for its efforts over the entire season, the Champions League winner earns that amount from the final alone.

AC Milan, Chelsea, Everton and Valencia join Guinness International Champions Cup

The Guinness International Champions Cup filled out its roster by announcing four more European teams to the summer tournament.

The Guinness International Champions Cup announced the final four teams which will take part in the U.S.-based summer tournament. AC Milan, Chelsea, Everton and Valencia join the previously-announced Inter, LA Galaxy, Juventus and Real Madrid. 

The tournament begins on July 27 and will take place in Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Indianapolis and New York. All eight teams will play in Miami's Sun Life Stadium, which will host a pair of double-headers in August. 

Chelsea, which played a pair of friendlies with Manchester City in the United States this week, was the 2012 MLS All-Star opponent. The Blues are the reigning Europa League champions. Since 2005, they have won three league titles, four FA Cups and both the Champions League and Europa League. 

Everton finished sixth in the Premier League before losing manager David Moyes to Manchester United. American Tim Howard tends goal for the Toffees, as he did when Everton took on the MLS All-Stars in 2009. 

Valencia employs Mexican winger Andres Guardado. It ended fifth in the Spanish Liga and last won the title in 2004. 

Milan sealed a Champions League berth on the last day of the season, clinching third in Italy. The Rossoneri, which won the last of their 18 Serie A titles in 2011, has conquered Europe seven times. 

Zac Lee Rigg: Arjen Robben redeemed by goal that won the Champions League

A goal and an assist vindicate Arjen Robben, who has lost two European and one world title in the final in the last three years.

Arjen Robben has one schtick. The Dutchman always cuts in on his left foot. 

Had events gone differently in the 2013 Champions League final, he may have cemented a second: flopping in the big games.

An hour into Bayern Munich's 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund, the signs pointed to yet another crushing trophy loss and yet more blame. 

Consider: since 2010, Robben has lost two Champions League finals and the World Cup final. He spurned an open breakaway with the score still scoreless in the 2010 World Cup final; Spain went on to win 1-0. He missed a penalty in extra time in last year's Champions League final; Chelsea went on to win on penalties. 

In the first half against Dortmund, the first all-German Champions League final, Robben twice shot clear chances straight at Roman Weidenfeller's face. 

"At halftime I thought, 'This can't be happening again,'" Robben told Sky. 

Unable to finish, the 29-year-old figured he might as well try a pass. 

On the hour mark, Mario Mandzukic pulled down a Manuel Neuer clearance. (Dortmund, despite boasting Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic, each 6-foot-4, barely won a defensive header.) Robben and Franck Ribery exchanged passes that set Robben free down the inside left channel. The Dutchman hit the endline and cut the ball across goal. A kind deflection put the ball in front of the open Mandzukic, who deftly deflected into the net. 

A sloppy foul by Dante, which should have seen the previously booked Brazilian ejected, allowed Dortmund to pull level quickly. Ilkay Gündogan scored his first penalty and first Champions League goal. (Robert Lewandowski, strongly linked with Bayern in the summer, had missed a spot kick against Neuer three weeks prior in a league game.)

Gündogan became the first player to score a penalty in a Champions League final since 2001, which only brought to mind Robben's miss last year. 

As the game opened up even more dramatically, with the ball hardly bothering to wave when passing the midfield zones, Robben moved up top, to better exploit his pace. 

Two trends became further entrenched. For one, Robben has only scored with his right foot once in the last three years (Bundesliga and Champions League). "He never uses his right foot even if he misses chances," Michel Salgado, a teammate with Robben for three years, told Ten. The other was that Robben took 24 straight shots in Champions League finals without scoring. 

"It just seems like Arjen Robben can't score in decisive matches," Franz Beckenbauer said at halftime. 

When Subotic executed a microsecond-perfect sliding tackle to deny Robben on the line, it looked as though the futility streak would continue. And it did – until the 89th minute, at least. 

Again, Dortmund failed to deal with a deep lob into the defensive third. Ribery pulled down a free kick from deep in Bayern's half with ease at the top of the BVB box. Under pressure, he rolled the ball with the bottom of his cleat into the path of Robben. 

The Dutchman sprung forward – few, if any, players in the world can match Robben for his burst of acceleration – tipped the ball around Hummels and took another touch to lead Weidenfeller the wrong way. On his 25th shot in CL finals, Robben finally slipped one past the goalkeeper, his tame strike trickling inside the post for the game winner. 

"I heard so many people saying in the last weeks saying they would grant me this," Robben told ZDF. "They told me, 'You'll score the goal.'"

The people were right. The angst and failure rolled away in the form of tears at the final whistle. 

Jupp Heynckes became the fourth coach to win the Champions League with two different clubs. In 1998, a few days after he lifted the trophy, Real Madrid fired him. He has one last game in charge of Bayern, the German Cup final against Stuttgart, after which Pep Guardiola will replace him. 

One more win and Heynckes will leave Guardiola trying to emulate the first ever treble by a German club. 

Bayern won the league by 25 clear points over Dortmund, the second best team in Europe this year. It posted a 7-0 aggregate score over Barcelona, the best team in a generation, in the CL semifinals. 

Despite the Bavarians' smothering domination, Robben had a poor season. Injury and form cost him a starting spot, and he complained frequently about his lack of playing time. 

But an injury to Toni Kroos gave Robben another chance in the final weeks of the season. The Dutchman learned from his time away from the starting lineup: he tracked back more fervently and seemed more eager to tee up teammates. 

A run of positive form (five goals in his last eight matches) crescendoed in Saturday's final, with a man of the match display and no shortage of redemption. 

"It is hard to describe," Thomas Müller told ZDF. "I am completely done. I have cramps left and right. But I did not go off the pitch and it paid off. Physically, I am over the limit now. When you are 68 years old and you have a record season and then you win the Champions League and have the chance for the treble, you can be happy you are 68 and not 25. Because then you can retire."

As Heynckes, at 68, weighs up retirement, he can thank Robben for shedding a pesky schtick. Robben: the hero, at last. 

Rummenigge: Bayern not arrogant ahead of Champions League final

The club chairman has made it clear that the Bavarians will not underestimate Dortmund ahead of this weekend's showpiece at Wembley

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has insisted that Bayern Munich will not get carried away ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.

The Bavarians are by many seen as the favourites following their dominance in the Bundesliga and their impressive displays against Barcelona in the semi-finals of European club football's elite competition, but the club's CEO has warned that anything can happen in this weekend's showpiece.

"Bayern have been very stable throughout the season and we have been playing some fantastic football," he told reporters. 

"We are not arrogant or pretentious heading into Saturday's game, though. We know that this is a final and that anything can happen. We will not do anything different than in a normal game.

"Last year an English team won the final in Munich, we hope that his year a Munich team will win in England.

"I don't think that there's a single person in Germany who would begrudge Jupp Heynckes the Champions League title."

Saturday's match at Wembley kicks off at 20:45CET.

Gundogan: We are not just athletes

BVB's tireless running on the pitch have seen them reach the Champions League final but the Germany midfielder insists their ability is also vital

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has insisted that there is more to his side than just running.

Jurgen Klopp's side have become famed for their work rate in recent years and reached this season's Champions League final.

However, the Germany star insists that other factors, such as their passion and teamwork are also vital to their success.

"Everybody runs a lot on this team, that's true," he told the club's official website.

"But of course that isn't everything. The combination of passion and technical skill - that's our style."

Star forward Marco Reus, meanwhile, has also underlined the importance of teamwork to the club.

"We can only do it together," he adds. "Every player works hard for the team. Everybody is important. It's all for one and on for all."

BVB regularly attract crowds of more than 80,000 people and winger Jakub Blaszczykowski says the atmosphere in Sigal Iduna Park is indescribable.

"Borussia is like a religion in this city. I cannot explain this, you have to experience it for yourself," he adds.

Goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller also believes that the stadium is a pilgrimage for locals.

"Football is holy here. People go to the games here, the way other people go to church."

Gundogan, who grew up in BVB's Ruhr heartland, believes that the fans' fervour for football is born out of a sense of belonging.

"It's perfectly normal here that we have 80,000 people at the ground every fortnight, no matter which club we're playing. That's not normal anywhere else. 

"A part of our success can be ascribed to the fans. They belong to the team."

Club captain Sebastian Kehl - who has been at the club for 13 years - believes that the city lives and breathes for the game because there is little else to do in the city.

"It's because football is everything in this city. There was a time when Dortmund used to be famous for things like steel mills and breweries.

"Now there is only football. The city lives through football."

Bayern & Dortmund the best teams throughout the Champions League, says Gary Neville

The former Manchester United defender is eagerly anticipating Saturday's match and feels the German sides deserve their place in the final

Former England defender Gary Neville believes that Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmundhave been the best teams in the Champions League this season and deserve their place in the final.

The 38-year-old has been impressed with the progress both sides have made in the competition and feels they have maintained their form throughout the competition.

"It’s not often the best two teams throughout the competition get to the final," the Manchester United legend told thefa.com.

"Sometimes teams will be stronger before Christmas, some after Christmas, but these two have been the best teams throughout the year.

"I've watched a lot of their games and they invigorate you every time. They are two special teams.

"I’ve got nothing but praise for both sides. There will be some great players on view, the quality of football will be there for all to see and the atmosphere will be sensational."

Neville won the Champions League with United in 1998-99 when they beat Bayern and in 2007-08 when they defeated Chelsea.

Klinsmann loves Dortmund's enthusiasm under Klopp

The United States coach has revealed what he thinks are BVB's best traits whilst tipping his old team, Bayern Munich, to win the Champions League on Saturday

Jurgen Klinsmann has spoken of his admiration for Borussian Dortmund under Jurgen Kloppahead of the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

The current United States trainer, who has played for and coached at Bayern, is confident his old team can end their European disappointment but praised the Schwarzgelben attitude and quality at high pace.

"The enthusiasm!" the ex-Germany international told Spox, when asked what he admires the most about Dortmund under Klopp.

"The enthusiasm, the pace and conviction. Dortmund has some players who are technically superior to their competition and can play at the highest speed."

"Klopp became a German champion with Borussia Dortmund and is now in the Champions League final - for me he has already arrived at the highest level. You must be a good coach when you build something great like Dortmund."

When asked to make his prediction for the final at Wembley on Saturday, Klinsmann admitted that it has been an unpredictable competition this year but feels that his former club will triumph on the night.

"It is a single game, in which many uncertainties may happen and somehow those uncertainties would fit well with the course of the Champions League season. But based on the experience of recent years, the favourite in this final is Bayern Munich."

The German coach currently has the task of helping the US qualify for World Cup 2014 after parting company with the Bavarian club in 2009.

Hargreaves expects Bayern Munich to 'steamroller everything' in coming years

The former England midfielder tips his old club to begin a period of dominance in European football, praising their infrastructure and warning that only complacency can stop them

Former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves has tipped his old team to begin a period of in which they "steamroller everything" following their clash with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final.

Hargreaves believes that the Bundesliga giants are at the top of the European game at present, telling the Daily Mail: "You have to say they're No.1.

"That team is as good as you'll find, with a work ethic. I'd be shocked if they didn't steamroller everything over the next few years. The only issue is complacency."

With former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola set to take over at the Allianz Arena in the summer, the former Three Lions star feels that the Spaniard may find it difficult to follow this season's potential treble-winning exploits but that he is going to the perfect club to keep up their success.

"The infrastructure has always been there," he explained. "People asked me why Guardiola chose to go there, not Chelsea. Well, he's a smart man. If Bayern is not the best-run club in Europe, you would struggle to find a better one. 

"But if they win the treble, what's he going to do? It's only downhill from there. I've heard great things about Guardiola and maybe it's good that he keeps it fresh. Barcelona is the best example. They were the best team ever to play this game and to get beat as they did in the semi-final can only be down to complacency.

"Any team with success over a period can fall victim to that. We thought they were undefeatable and then to go and get beat 7-0 over two legs [by Bayern] ... it wasn't even close. It could have been 12 or 13.

"Bayern have the right balance," he added. "They're a model for a lot of people. Their stadium is probably the best in Europe, their training ground is one of the best, commercially they turn a profit and make their own money. It's done naturally.

"It's mostly [club president] Uli Hoeness who has made the club what it is. He's the heart and soul. There was a time when he said they had to decide if they had enough money to cut the trees and plants down and to go from that to where they are is pretty amazing."

Dortmund sign Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Werder Bremen

The Greek defender's representative has confirmed that his client will join the Champions League finalists next season on a five-year deal for an estimated €9.5 million

The agent of Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has confirmed that his client has completed a move from Werder Bremen to Borussia Dortmund.

The 24-year-old joins BVB on a five-year contract for a transfer fee reported to be in the region of €9.5 million.

"It's done," the player's representative, Kostas Farras, told WAZ. 

"It's all signed. My client is now a Dortmund player and looking forward to BVB, coach Jurgen Klopp, the stadium and the fans."

With his future with the Signal Iduna Park side confirmed, the versatile defender will be rooting for his new club as they face Bayern Munich in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday evening.