According to a report from The Guardian, the UK newspaper, Manchester United’s new shirt sponsor, Snapdragon, is eager for United to tour India for the first time during a preseason. A similar report surfaced in 2020, but the talks cooled off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Snapdragon, a US technology firm, signed a three-year, $225 million (£176 million) shirt deal with Manchester United last summer. The company’s involvement with United could lead to exciting opportunities.
Don McGuire, Snapdragon’s Chief Marketing Officer, stated:
“We are working very closely with the team on the reimagination of Old Trafford from a technology and innovation standpoint, and Carrington [the training base]. If that leads to something bigger, where it would make sense for us to go even bigger—this [shirt sponsorship] is pretty big, by the way, not inexpensive—we are always looking out for opportunities.”
Manchester United is considering whether to build a new home or revamp Old Trafford. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the minority owner driving the project, favors the former option and wants the club to decide by December. Snapdragon is interested in acquiring the naming rights to the new stadium, which Ratcliffe is pushing to build. He envisions a stadium with a capacity of over 100,000, inspired by recent developments at Real Madrid. Barcelona has also been constructing a new stadium and has already sold its naming rights.
According to the Guardian, McGuire mentioned that India and China are preferred future tour destinations due to Snapdragon’s reach and its San Diego-headquartered parent company, Qualcomm.
What Would a Manchester United Visit to India Mean?
Engagement with Fans:
Football is a growing sport in India, with a huge fan base for the English Premier League and La Liga. In regions like Kerala, Goa, Kolhapur, the North-East, Kolkata, and parts of Madhya Pradesh, football is even more popular than cricket. Some areas in Kerala passionately support Argentina and Brazil. The local football culture, known as “Khep Football,” is very famous, and legendary clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have deep roots in Indian sports culture. However, India has yet to realize its full potential in football on the international stage, often failing to qualify for the Asian Cup or FIFA World Cup.
In 2016, FIFA’s Director of Marketing Division, Thierry Weil, referred to India as a “sleeping giant” for football growth and an important emerging market for the sport commercially. Therefore, for Manchester United and Snapdragon, India represents a crucial market opportunity.
Bayern Munich FC’s Visit to India:
The last major club to visit India was Bayern Munich, during Bhaichung Bhutia’s farewell match on January 10, 2012. This friendly match between the Indian football team and Bayern Munich FC was the last opportunity to see the living legend and former national team skipper play for the Blue Tigers. German carmaker Audi India organized the event, which coincided with the Auto Expo in New Delhi, where several German players promoted their cars.
Impact on Indian Football:
Visits from top clubs like Manchester United bring fans closer to their favorite teams. Indian football fans love big European football clubs, but such visits often do little to improve Indian football at the grassroots level. Nonetheless, they can inspire young players and boost the sport’s popularity in the country.
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