Manchester United will cover the costs of Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer in new commercial deals worth around £30 million during the next 12 months, which will be stimulated by the megastar’s global appeal, according to a leading analyst.
Experts have heaped praise on another sharp piece of business by United, which reportedly spreads the £19.8 million cost of the deal – including add-ons – over five years.
At the same time, Ronaldo’s arrival will almost immediately strengthen income streams and provided manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, can find the winning formula, the player will enhance the club’s chances on the pitch, too.
Dr Rob Wilson, an expert in football finance at Sheffield Hallam University, suggests that the signing of Ronaldo and the benefits that flow from that, could even usher in a new era of domination in domestic football.
Key to the commercial success of Ronaldo’s transfer is the power of his personal brand, which instantly extends the club’s reach and appeal. In February, he reached half a billion followers across social media.
The Portuguese international had 261 million followers on Instagram, where he is one of the most followed people in the world. On Facebook, his page had almost 125 million likes and about 147 million followers while on Twitter, there were 91 million people following him.Ronaldo’s Social Media Reach Will Increase Revenues For United – Expert
