The Champions League has always been a valuable prize in more ways than one. As well as the prestige on offer for doing well, there’s plenty of money too. Despite being dumped out by Ajax in the second round last year, Real Madrid can still comfort themselves with the knowledge that they remain the most successful club in the Champions League era, pocketing more than 860million in the process. Since the competition was rebranded in 1992, increasing the financial rewards on offer to the biggest clubs and helping to crystallise existing inequalities, 17billion has been given out in prize money, according to L’Equipe. Each season, the 32 clubs that qualify for the Champions League, and...
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