Across the nine seasons they were accused of not providing accurate information, Manchester City spent £1.943billion on wages, over £100m more than any other English club. In 17 Abu Dhabi-controlled years to the end of 2024-25, their combined wage bill was £4.963bn. At Manchester United and Chelsea, the next-highest combined bills in England, the figure is around £600m lower. It is a staggering difference. Since 2009-10 (the first season the charges relate to), the Premier League has dished out more than £6bn in merit payments to 42 different clubs. City received £559.6m (9%). They have played in the Champions League every year from 2011-12 onwards, achieving qualification in eight of the nine years the charges spanned. Such qualification naturally means others missed out. On that particular measure, Tottenham Hotspur were worst hit, landing one spot outside of the Champions League on four occasions during that spell. Their Europa League earnings from those occasions totalled a combined £28.8million; City made £141m from the Champions League in the same seasons. It is not just those fighting for titles or European spots who may feel they’ve missed out. What of the beaten cup finalists? What of the clubs who might have avoided relegation if City’s results were scrubbed out? 📝 @CWeatherspoon_ bit.ly/4hPNst5