English soccer club Manchester United forecast record revenue for 2018-19, despite having dropped off the early pace in the new Premier League season.
United, whose squad includes World Cup winner Paul Pogba, David de Gea and Alexis Sanchez, said revenue is expected to be between £615m and £630m in the year to next June.
Its revenue for 2017-18 also came in at a record £590m despite a slowdown in the fourth-quarter, due to a dip in commercial and broadcasting revenue.
"Our increased revenue expectation for the year demonstrates our continued strong long-term financial performance which underpins everything we do and allows us to compete for top talent in an increasingly competitive transfer market," executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said in a statement.
There have been media reports of behind-the-scenes discord between Mr Woodward and team manager Jose Mourinho, over the club's recruitment policy.
Revenue for the three months ended 30 June fell 16% to £147.6m, as United's failure to progress beyond the round-of-16 in the lucrative UEFA Champions League contrasted with the previous year, when they won the second-tier Europa League.
The club is currently seventh in the English Premier League, eight points behind early leaders Liverpool and six behind cross-town rivals and reigning champions Manchester City.
City, owned by Arab billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, won the league with a 19-point margin over United last season and is now looking to close the gap on the 'Red Devils' off the pitch as well.
Earlier this month, it posted revenue of £500.5m and profit of £10.4m for the year ended 30 June.
United's adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for the year are expected to be between £175m and £190m compared with £177.1m reported for 2017-18.
