Man Utd sign £56m AIG shirt deal

[Mac 10 †]

Man Utd sign £56m AIG shirt deal
 
Manchester United have signed the UK's biggest shirt sponsorship deal.
 
The agreement with insurer American International Group (AIG) is worth £56.5m over four years, the club said.

United have had to find a new backer after current sponsor Vodafone decided to end its £9m-a-year agreement from the end of this season.

The deal is seen as key to United as they look to bolster their squad to help them challenge for domestic and European honours.

Off and on the pitch, United have undergone a slight wobble during the past couple of years.

Earlier this year, a survey said that Real Madrid had leapfrogged Manchester United to become the world's richest football club in terms of income.

On the pitch, Chelsea have dominated the domestic league and United have failed to make an impression in European competitions.

The club hopes that the shirt deal will go a long way towards helping to finance a recovery.

However, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said the club's spending policy would remain the same.

"The financial foundation will benefit the club as a whole and we can look forward to years of progress through that," he said.

"But for me it's always going to be about how we can improve the team and nothing changes in that respect.

"I go to (chief executive) David Gill and say 'this is a player I'd like', then we assess how much it's going to cost and take it from there."

Verbal agreement

The new shirt deal has not been without controversy. Earlier this week United were accused of "double dealing" by online casino firm Mansion.

The company's chief negotiator claimed that Mansion and United had verbally agreed to a £70m shirt sponsorship deal before the football club pulled out.

The club countered that it never holds exclusive talks and it was perfectly entitled to hold discussions with other firms.

Previously, the UK's biggest shirt deal was Chelsea's current £50m five-year agreement with Samsung.

United's search for a new backer was sparked after Vodafone said in November that it would start sponsoring the Uefa Champions League, both as an official partner and the official mobile network of the competition.

The world's largest mobile phone company by revenue said it would continue to work with United, but that when the Champions League opportunity arose it was "too good to let go".

The telecoms giant first started sponsoring United in 2000 but decided to take advantage of a get-out clause after the club was taken over by US sports magnate Malcolm Glazer.

OTHER SPONSORSHIP DEALS
Tamoil - Juventus, £15m a year
BenQ - Real Madrid, £14m a year (from 2006)
T-Mobile - Bayern Munich, £11.4m a year
Samsung - Chelsea, £10m a year

[Jip]

this sponsorship is the stupidest thing ever

i mean, football fans arent looking to get finance from an american company, although alot more people will see it than just football fans a sponsership with a fucking finance company is stupid

[Jip]

oh, and its ugly, i was gonna buy a new shirt, but they can suck my balls if they think im walking around with that on

[Javier]

lol wtf

[Capo Di Tutti I Capi]

I'm a big United fan but aint a chance I'm wearing a shirt with something that ugly on.

[Sweet & Tender Hooligan]

WHo gives a fuck wot the shirt looks like??.....ITs got the club badge on it doesnt it? That should b enough....Celtic have had some shockers over the years and av still worn them with pride. Same wit Scotland.

[Javier]

Scotland?

[Mac 10 †]

Scotland?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland

http://www.tartanthemes.com/scottishinventions.htm

[Javier]

I doubt Scotland uses one of their sponsorships on the front part of their nat'l jersey...or do they?

[Mac 10 †]

I doubt Scotland uses one of their sponsorships on the front part of their nat'l jersey...or do they?

nah they don't.

[Javier]

That's why I said "Scotland?" 

[Mac 10 †]

That's why I said "Scotland?" 

ok 

[Sweet & Tender Hooligan]

I was referrin 2 the ugliness of strips not the name on it. I tried 2 post a few pics but just got lil red crosses.....mibbe Mac10 could help me out there. lol

[gav09]

Im a huge United fan n its a shame that the shirt looks shit but they payin us £56m to wear that shit, so who gives a FUCK?!
The moneys gonna help the team so id wear it!

[KURUPTION-81]

Im a huge United fan n its a shame that the shirt looks shit but they payin us £56m to wear that shit, so who gives a FUCK?!
The moneys gonna help the team so id wear it!

Thats this seasons shirt with the new sponsors logo on thats all. The new strip is due out next year, so maybe they will try and do something to make the logo look better on the new shirt.