Overview
- Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final means the club will miss out on Champions League qualification next season, losing an estimated £70–85 million in revenue.
- The club faces a £10 million penalty in its Adidas sponsorship deal and £22.7 million less in Premier League merit payments due to a 16th-place league finish.
- United's financial strain includes a £365 million annual wage bill and £331 million in transfer debt, necessitating further cost reductions and potential player sales to balance the books.
- Football finance experts attribute United's decline to structural and cultural issues, with criticism directed at senior management despite the club's high revenues and spending.
- Co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, who has already implemented 250 job cuts, is under pressure to stabilize the club while managing fan dissatisfaction and meeting financial fair play regulations.