By Yadarisa Shabong

(Reuters) -Manchester United raised their annual core profit forecast on Friday to levels last seen before the pandemic as the club’s strong performance in the Europa League drove ticket sales and broadcast revenue.

Ticket sales jumped more than 50% to 44.5 million pounds in the three months to March as the club had a good run in the Europa League, before losing the finals to Tottenham Hotspur.

United’s New York-listed shares rose 4.4% in U.S. premarket trading.

The club’s annual core profit, which excludes player trading and finance cost, is expected to jump 21% to 28% to a range of 180 million to 190 million pounds for the year ending June.

United had their worst Premier League season since they were relegated in 1974 and hopes of participating in a European comp

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