Manchester Derby... €500 million market gap separates the rivals

- City’s value jumps to €1.43 billion against United’s €924.3 million

- The gap widens to more than eight times its size prior to the Guardiola era

The Manchester derby is no longer just a football match between rivals who share the city. Numbers ahead of Sunday’s anticipated clash reveal a massive market-value gap between Manchester City and Manchester United, exceeding half a billion euros, compared to less than €60 million before the start of the Pep Guardiola era.

Manchester City visit Manchester United on Sunday in the first derby between the two sides since Guardiola’s departure from the former English champions at the end of last season, after a decade in charge since he took over in the summer of 2016.

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Italian Enzo Maresca currently manages Manchester City, while Michael Carrick leads Manchester United on a permanent deal after overseeing the team on an interim basis last season.

According to Transfermarkt data, Manchester City’s squad market value in the 2015-2016 season—the last full season before Guardiola’s arrival—was approximately €499.35 million, compared to €439.85 million for Manchester United.

The difference between the two sides at that time was just €59.5 million in City’s favor, with their market value only about 13.5 percent higher than their rivals’.

However, the landscape changed significantly in the following years. Manchester City’s current squad market value stands at €1.43 billion ahead of the first derby since the end of the Spanish manager’s tenure, while Manchester United’s is valued at €924.3 million.

The gap between the two clubs has thus widened to €505.7 million in City’s favor, compared to just €59.5 million in the 2015-2016 season, making the current gap more than eight times larger than it was before Guardiola’s arrival.

Manchester City’s squad value has increased by approximately €930.65 million compared to the last season before the Guardiola era, representing a rise of nearly 186 percent. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s value grew by around €484.45 million during the same period, or approximately 110 percent.