Manchester United profit weighed down by higher wage bill

[February 08, 2018]  (Reuters) - English soccer club Manchester United said its core quarterly earnings dipped because of rising wages for its players after its return to the Champions League.

United, whose leading players include Paul Pogba and David de Gea, are currently second in the 20-team English Premier League and have reached the last 16 of the Champions League, Europe's elite club competition.

"Our solid business model has allowed us to invest in the future of the club with the extension of Jose Mourinho's contract as manager and the acquisition of Alexis Sanchez," Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward said.

Manager Mourinho last month extended his contract until 2020, while Sanchez moved from Arsenal.

The club's adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization for the three months to December 31 slipped to 67.8 million pounds ($94.9 million) from 69 million pounds a year ago.

Revenue increased 3.8 percent to 163.9 million pounds in the period -- the second quarter of its 2017-18 financial year.

However, salary expenses for the quarter came in 9.4 percent higher at 69.9 million pounds on player salary uplifts due to participation in the Champions League.

General view of a corner flag at Old Trafford before the match Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Controlled by the American Glazer family, United have won the English league title a record 20 times.

Last season, United won the League Cup, as well as Europe's second-tier Europa League competition, securing a slot in the cash-rich Champions League for the current season.

($1 = 0.7148 pounds)

(Reporting by Rahul B in Bengaluru; Editing by Keith Weir)

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.