Ed Woodward will be fuming.
Manchester United are known for not missing a trick when it comes to maximising revenue through the sponsorship of anything and everything related to the club.
Every few weeks we hear about a new money-spinning corporate sponsor – from official tyre manufacturers to noodle partners – willing to swell the Old Trafford coffers with millions of pounds worth of revenue. In fact, some of the weird and wonderful deals are beyond parody.
But it seems that great civic rivals Manchester City have stolen a march on their red counterparts by announcing that they are the first Premier League club to agree a deal to have TWO sponsors on their kit from 2017/18.
Due to the fact that the Premier League will not have a title sponsor – it will be simply the ‘Premier League’ rather than the ‘Barclays Premier League’ – clubs will now be allowed to have an extra sponsor on their sleeves as well as chest.
City are the first to take advantage of the change in rules with the announcement that Nexen Tire will join Etihad Airways on their famous sky blue shirts from next season as the Official Sleeve Partner of the club. Manchester United – and everyone else – are expected to follow suit with announcements of their own in coming months.
Seeing as owner Sheikh Mansour is worth a trifling €23 billion, this injection of tyre cash has come at just the right time. Consider the wolf kept from the door. For now.
