The primary driver behind this financial tumble is the catastrophic 2024-25 season, which is described as the club's worst-ever Premier League campaign. United finished in a humiliating 15th position and suffered further heartbreak by losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. These on-pitch failures have had direct and costly consequences for the bottom line, significantly reducing merit payments and broadcasting revenue.
Crucially, the drop in revenue is exacerbated by the club's failure to qualify for the lucrative Champions League for successive seasons - a nadir not seen since the days of the old European Cup. This absence from Europe's elite table has allowed rivals to surge ahead.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who took control of football operations in February 2024, has attempted to stem the bleeding through a "zero-based budgeting" policy, which has led to a series of staff redundancies and aggressive cost cuts. However, these efficiency measures have yet to translate into success on the grass. With head coach Ruben Amorim sacked earlier this month and the team currently sitting outside the top four, the fear is that United’s slide down the Money League could continue next year if they fail to secure a return to top-tier European football.
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