How Manchester City Overtook United and the Battle for the City's Crown

Manchester City's rise from upstart to the dominant force in Manchester football has fundamentally altered the rivalry with Manchester United, with City now outpacing their neighbours on the pitch and in the boardroom.

City recorded record revenues of £715 million in 2023-24, a Premier League high and a figure that eclipses United's receipts even as Old Trafford continues to generate far greater matchday income. The chasm reflects years of strategic commercial expansion at City, driven by sponsorship deals, retail growth and global fan engagement, while United — still buoyed by a legacy fanbase and a larger stadium — have seen slower commercial growth in recent seasons.

City sources, speaking to Daily Mail Sport, say the club's ambition was clear from the beginning of the Abu Dhabi era and that early derision from United only hardened their resolve. That transformation included marquee signings and a focus on creating global player brands, a strategy that has widened City's appeal among younger supporters who increasingly follow individual stars as much as clubs. The club's recent £1 billion kit deal with Puma, a doubling of retail revenues within three years and record commercial growth over six seasons have all underscored that shift.

United retain significant strengths. They have nearly 20,000 more seats at Old Trafford, stronger matchday revenues, record membership levels and a social media presence that remains the largest among English clubs. The club reported robust sponsorship agreements, including a reported £60 million-a-year shirt deal with Snapdragon and a decade-long kit contract with adidas said to be worth around £900 million. United have sold out every home match and still maintain a global profile built over many decades.

But the trends point to a changed balance. Deloitte's 2025 Money League places City second only to Real Madrid, with United fourth. Analysts and club insiders cited in reporting say City's growth in commercial income — up more than 50 percent in six seasons — contrasts with a roughly 10 percent rise at United over the same period. Football finance expert Kieran Maguire said United need to begin winning trophies again to reclaim commercial momentum, noting that success on the field drives sponsor interest and merchandise sales.

The clubs' approaches to building followings also differ. City executives credit an expanding digital strategy and international tours with growing popularity in markets such as the United States, Asia and parts of South America. EA Sports' recent ratings list was cited as an example of shifting perceptions: City had five players among the 26 highest-rated men, while United had none. Commentators say players such as Erling Haaland have helped personify City's rise and attract younger fans who identify with stars first and clubs second.

United's enduring advantages are visible in infrastructure and history. Old Trafford still draws substantial crowds and carries a decades-long global cachet. But the club's long-planned redevelopment remains on paper, while City is pressing ahead with stadium expansion and commercial projects: the new North Stand at the Etihad will push capacity beyond 60,000, and a 401-room hotel and a significant stake in the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live venue are due to open in the coming year.

The two clubs' trajectories are also shaped by on-field performance. City, winners of the 2023 treble, have established a sustained period of success under Pep Guardiola, though they have faced interruptions and a mixed run of form in recent seasons. Guardiola's contract runs until the summer of 2027 at the latest, a date that club sources acknowledge will test the depth of City's structures and succession planning. United, whose last Premier League title came in 2013, have endured a longer decline and are attempting a rebuild under a new coaching structure that includes staff recruited in part from City.

Voices from the game describe a shifting fan landscape. Rebecca Lowe, the lead presenter of Premier League coverage on NBC in the United States, said United retain a strong hold on the American public but warned City were closing the gap with a wave of newer supporters. Charlie Stillitano, co-founder of Relevent Sports, said United remain a major draw in the U.S. but added that younger audiences are drawn to stars and that City's steadier recent progress has broadened its appeal.

United's challenge, according to commentators and analysts, is translating the club's historical advantages into renewed success on the field and into modern commercial returns. The club's social media footprint — reported at roughly 233.6 million across platforms — remains the largest among English clubs and a powerful asset for sponsorship and global engagement. Yet recent commercial growth has lagged peers such as City and Tottenham, the latter boosted by stadium-driven income gains.

Both clubs face questions about sustainability and long-term positioning. City insiders stress the investments in infrastructure and multi-club networks that have broadened their player pathways and international reach; they also acknowledge the need to maintain winning standards to preserve momentum. United officials and supporters point to the club's unmatched history, membership base and matchday income as foundations for a comeback, while stressing that correcting course requires success on the pitch.

As Manchester prepares for another derby, the contest is no longer only about points. It now encompasses competing commercial models, demographic shifts in fandom and the consequences of a decade-long change in fortunes. For City, the task is to keep converting investment and global interest into sustained domination; for United, the immediate priority is restoring on-field success to rekindle the commercial and cultural advantages built over decades.

The rivalry, once defined by a narrow sporting margin and a single dramatic moment in 2012, has broadened into a multi-layered contest for identity, revenue and future fans. Both clubs enter the new season aware that the balance of power can still shift but that the last decade has already reconfigured the map of Manchester football.