Reports that Manchester United were close to completing a shirt sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia’s tourism board only for talks to break down late in the game have been revealed as rumors according to Football Insider sources.
the search continues
Nonetheless, United is still searching for a replacement jersey sponsor since it bought back its rights from previous partner TeamViewer in December (via Football Insider).
TeamViewer pulled out after internal concerns were raised over lackluster results from their £235m partnership.
clearing the air
The fallacious report suggested that Red Devils CEO Richard Arnold met with representatives from Visit Saudi in late 2022.
Arnold’s supposed goal was to seal a deal and announce it in a matter of days.
An endorsement broker has since revealed to the outlet that reports of a broken deal were premature at best.
Although negotiations took place, the discussions have not yet concluded.
The talks were held in early November, several weeks before the date suggested in the erroneous report.
Questionable reports aside, the timeline shows that Manchester United were already looking for suitors before announcing the reclaiming of the rights to their TeamViewer jersey.
Furthermore, the summit likely occurred before the Glazer family declared its intentions to sell United.
United issued the official statement on November 23, 2022.
It has not yet been confirmed if Visit Saudi is still pursuing the alliance with United.
Much is still up in the air, including the purchase of the club, with various parties from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates reportedly interested in the takeover.
United Matchday Magazine – Stay on top of everything in the red. Still itching for more United content? Get everything you need right here. For just £1.25 per issue / £3.75 per month, you’ll receive unique United information, delivered directly to your inbox, before every game and throughout the month.
Get exclusive preparation for every game, plus team news, tactics and history. Not only that – United Matchday is packed with articles, news, transfer news, riddles, nostalgia and humor. Impress your friends and stay on top of everything in red!
