We hear the statement 'football is a business' a lot these days and the saying can ring very true as to way Manchester United were able to re-sign a club legend and one of world football's global icons.
When the news broke on Friday that Manchester United had gazumped Manchester City in a deal to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Premier League, supporters rejoiced. But it will be those who are more invested in the financial area of club's decisions that will have known why the move made sense. Not just for the emotional attachment but for what a player of Ronaldo's stature can bring commercially through shirt sales, merchandise and a new wave of young fan culture.
Manchester United are deemed the second most supported club on the planet. Through announcing the 36-year-old was returning to Old Trafford, the club gained 1m new Instagram followers whilst on Twitter, the club announcement was the most reacted to transfer of all time.
The unique position the club finds itself, with no less than 37 commercial partners and bringing in over 100m revenue each year in recent times, gives room for exceptional circumstances like when one of the worlds best player's, European Championship Golden Boot winner and a certified hero who is worshiped by the club's supporters becomes available.
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Adidas, for example, who have taken a grip of football shirt culture to combine style with nostalgia in this season's club kits will no doubt take advantage from shirt sales from things like them extra million Instagram followers who will want to play as United on the new version's of Fifa and alike.
United's bosses, who felt the heat from the proposed European Super League, will have forecast were the club can win through global advertising and revenue through Ronaldo who they are expected to pay 500k per week for his services, making him the league's highest paid player. The unique business model, with resource through commercial gain, is what made paying up to a total of around £20m for the veteran to come back to Manchester to hopefully catapult the club to further honours that he won during his first six years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Adidas
