Cristiano Ronaldo recently returned to Manchester United in a move worth £60 million in total. The return of one of the best players in the history of the club is expected to bring in a surge in revenue, and the process has already begun.
AON were most recently the sponsors of United’s training ground, and their deal worth £180 million for eight years ended this summer. The club are now open to finding the next company to sponsor not only their ground, but also their training kits since AON is set to be replaced.
HUT Group were in talks to become the next in line, but the deal collapsed once the European Super League protests took place, and United are yet to find a replacement for them.
Ronaldo’s arrival will surely boost the chances of getting an increased sum of sponsorship in the future, and the income has already started to increase in terms of shirt sales. United’s shirt sales usually rack up around 3-4 million per season, which cost 70 pounds on average.
While the club only earns around 7.5-10% of the revenue from shirt sales, the number of Ronaldo 7’s alone could generate millions.
The revenue generated by shirt sales alone is expected to be around 18 million, and will certainly help the Glazers achieve financial stability and pay off the debts accumulated over the years due to the transfer business they have done in the transfer window.
If Ronaldo’s arrival manages to deliver United additional success on the pitch in the form of trophies, for the Glazers, it will only be seen as additional success rather than the main objective.