Sponsors sigh with relief after MUFC settles Rooney row
Manchester United Football Club (MUFC) has signed a new contract with Wayne Rooney in a move that should reassure sponsors of both the club and its star player.
Rooney’s spat with MUFC club manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been heavily covered in the media and followed revelations that broke in September about the star’s alleged liaison with a prostitute.
Rooney has signed a new five year contract to stay at Manchester United until at least June 2015.
Ferguson says: “It’s been a difficult week, but the intensity of the coverage is what we expect at Manchester United. I said to the boy that the door is always open and I’m delighted Wayne has agreed to stay.
“Sometimes, when you’re in a club, it can be hard to realise just how big it is and it takes something like the events of the last few days to make you understand. I think Wayne now understands what a great club Manchester United is.”
Coca-Cola Great Britain & Ireland dropped Rooney from a Coke Zero campaign following the sex allegations.
Rooney is thought to earn about £600,000 a year from his deal with Coca-Cola.
He fronts a television show “Street Striker” on Sky where he helps amateur footballers develop their football skills.
The footballer is said to earn about £7.3m per year from endorsements including Nike and EA Sports as well as Coca-Cola.
MUFC has a £20m shirt sponsorship deal with Aon and the club reported a record revenue last year.