Manchester United will naturally be overjoyed that as world club champions they will net £1.5 million and continue to be the richest soccer company in the world. The fact that they refuse to pay gifted Roy Keane his market worth is an irony Martin Edwards appears to be prepared to live with.

Manchester United's annual turnover is double that of their nearest rivals, Newcastle, and the money rolling into Old Trafford is equal to the combined cash coming into the bottom 44 clubs in England and Scotland. That means that more than half the clubs in England and Scotland could put their incomes together and still be outbid for the signature of an Owen, Rivaldo or Vieri.