Manchester United completes sponsorship hat-trick
Manchester United has signed its third sponsorship deal with an overseas firm in two weeks after agreeing a partnership with African mobile phone operator MTN Group.
The three-and-a-half-year deal marks the latest stage in United’s plans to exploit its worldwide popularity and portfolio of overseas sponsors.
It follows recent agreements made with Telekom Malaysia and Turkish Airlines. The club also has country specific partnerships with firms including India’s Bharti Airtel and Saudi Telecom Company.
David Gill, the club’s chief executive, says the partnership “is a very important step in the club’s plan to get closer to its family of fans based all over the world”.
The club’s owners, the Glazer family are currently facing protests from fans angry about United’s £700m debt. The Manchester United Supporters Trust, which is leading the protests, is working with Blue State Digital, the agency behind President Obama’s 2008 digital election drive, on a digital drive aimed at building support for its bid to oust the Glazers from the club.
The fans’ organisation is working closely with the Red Knights, the group of City financers looking to take control of the club.
The group, which is thought to include Richard Hytner, deputy chairman worldwide at Saatchi & Saatchi, last week confirmed that investment bank Nomura would act as an advisor.
