Ronaldo sale to Real keeps Man United in the black

LONDON: Only Cristiano Ronaldo's world-record transfer prevented Manchester United making an annual loss of more than 30 million pounds ($48.2 million), figures released by the English Premier League champions showed on Monday.

United declared a pre-tax profit of 48.2 million pounds ($77.7 million) for the year up to June 30, 2009.

But without the departure of Portugal winger Ronaldo, sold to Spanish giants Real Madrid for 80 million pounds ($129 million), the Old Trafford club would have been reporting a loss of 31.8 million pounds.