UNITED SIGN MEGA DEAL

Manchester United has signed a record shirt sponsorship deal with the American carmaker General Motors. The deal, which could see Manchester United pocket around £ 210 million over seven years, easily beats the current recordholder Manchester City by many millions, according to the Man City news website.

City enjoyed the status of having the record shirt sponsorship deal due to the fact that their sponsor pays around £ 25 million per season. Manchester United’s sponsor – General Motors, though, will pay around £ 30 million per season for the next seven years in order to remain on the Manchester United kit. This record-breaking deal comfortably eclipses the previous deal Manchester United had with the American insurance company AON.

The club recently were placed on the New York stock exchange with shares selling for around $ 20. It is estimated that the club hopes to raise around £ 300 million by way of this listing. Around £ 150 million will be directly going into servicing the debt, which currently stands at £ 450 million. It has hampered the progress of the club a lot in recent times, with the manager Sir Alex Ferguson unable to compete with the best in terms of the transfer fees. Manchester United recently had to lose out on the signing of Eden Hazard because they were unable to match the European champions’ offer.

“We have been partners with Chevrolet for only six weeks, but already they have produced some fantastic ideas that will benefit both the partnership and our 659 million followers around the world,” said the commercial director of the club, Richard Arnold, on the official website of the club. Manchester United are definitely one of the biggest clubs in the world and they are valued at around $ 2.5 million in the latest report released by the US magazine Forbes. Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium is also the biggest club ground in the UK.

FERGIE BACKS WELBECK

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said that striker Danny Welbeck should be looking at getting a goal tally of 20 goals this season in order to prove that he is capable of playing for the club. The England striker has come in leaps and bounds last season after spending a season-long loan at Sunderland. The pacey striker has been able to keep out the likes of Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov out of the starting line-up. In the absence of Rooney in the first two matches at the Euro 2012, England manager Roy Hodgson preferred using the Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck over the Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.

Despite this incredible progress, Sir Alex Ferguson has said that the striker should score even more goals in order to prove that he can be a top-class player for United in the future. In order to do so, he must score 20 goals in the upcoming season. Despite his incredible progress, Sir Alex Ferguson is not taking any chances and is looking towards signing Arsenal striker Robin van Persie in the summer. The club have already made a starting bid of £ 15 million, which has been instantly rejected by Arsenal.

“Danny can be a top player but, obviously, he will have to improve his goalscoring. If you are going to be a top striker you have to get 20 or above. I think he will do that. At 6ft 3in, I don’t think he’ll get taller, it will go the other way, and he is very powerful already. He’s got good movement and courage, plus confidence on the ball,” said Ferguson. Manchester United are expected to increase the bid for van Persie to up to £ 20 million if they are to sell Dimitar Berbatov for around £ 5 million, with Galatasaray showing interest.

DHL ANNOUNCE UNITED DEAL

International shipping giant DHL has announced that it will be launching the second wave of the advertising campaign along with Manchester United in this month. Manchester United are regarded to be one of the greatest club’s in the world, with an estimated 670 million followers around the world.

They are especially popular in Asia, where they have twice the number of followers than Barcelona. As a result, it is not surprising that a company like DHL has decided to take advantage of the popularity Manchester United have on television. They have already released the first instalment of the International Specialist campaign recently.

Now, the company executives have revealed that the second instalment will be following suit soon. A number of high profile players from the Manchester United squad including the likes of Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Hernandez will be part of the advertising campaign. Even brilliant is the fact that Manchester united manager Sir Alex Ferguson is also part of the campaign as well.

DHL is also associated with Formula One as well. It is understood that the advertising campaign will be in such a way as to take advantage of the popularity of both the icons. Formula One is one of the biggest followed sports after the likes of football and NFL.

“For DHL, a claim in an advertising campaign means nothing without a committed team of international specialists and a world-class express delivery network behind it. This latest Manchester United campaign represents a celebration of the global partnerships which help our customers to connect emotionally with the DHL brand. However, we are also celebrating the investments we have made into the people and network that bring our brand to life and connect our customers with their own business partners around the world every day,” said Ken Allen, CEO of DHL Express.

WELBECK RULED OUT

Danny Welbeck’s injury in Monday’s Manchester derby has ruled him out of the remainder of United’s season. Whilst not set to rule Welbeck out of Euro 2012 the news is a blow to almost all at Old Trafford with one major exception. Michael Owen looks set to make a return to the United team and given the chance for the “one big goal in the title race” he has been promising United fans all season.

With Hernandez likely to be handed the starting role against Swansea and Sunderland should Welbeck be unavailable it would be expected that Owen will have to settle for a spot on the bench. But this could be the perfect chance for the veteran to give himself another iconic memory from a United career that has seen Owen score some memorable goals including his last minute winner in the 2009 Manchester Derby.

The league title is still very much on after City’s victory over United and the prospect of Michael Owen returning to the United squad has the potential to be key in the destination of the league trophy. Should Newcastle get a result against City who would bet against a last minute winner from Owen returning United to the top of the table or a goal at Sunderland to see United lift the trophy.

Despite these images the momentum is still with City, a fact that has not escaped the City camp. David Silva saying City are “ready to win the title” and has described Sunday’s clash with Newcastle as “like a final for us”.

With all the talk having been that the Derby would settle the title it would have been expected that things would have calmed down a little by now. But with Newcastle’s performances in recent weeks there is real hope from the red half of Manchester that the title will not be over until May 13th and its destination could be either of Manchester’s clubs.

CAN REAL DO IT?

Real Madrid will be taking on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in what promises to be a exciting encounter in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final between the two clubs.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes will be taking on the side whom he managed back in 1998. Back then, Real Madrid were extremely successful under his guidance and they won the Champions League title that season.

However, he will be hoping that Real Madrid do not achieve that feat this time around when they face his current club Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. If bookmakers are anything to go by, they are not providing Bayern Munich with any chance to win this match.

Real Madrid are the overwhelming favourites to overcome Bayern Munich in the first leg, which could possibly set up a El Clasico in the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena. José Mourinho already knows the way to play Bayern Munich because he has already faced them with Inter Milan in the Champions League final of 2010.

Ladbrokes and William Hill provide the best odds for Bayern Munich to win this match at 17/10. Bet Victor provides Real Madrid with the odds of 5/2 to get a draw away at Bayern Munich. Coral and Blue Square provide the best odds for Real Madrid to win the match at 7/4.

Real Madrid have the advantage in this match because they will be facing a Bayern Munich side that will come on the back of a disappointment of failing to win the title back from the clutches of Borussia Dortmund. This after the latter almost secured the title after opening a huge advantage at the top of the table. Hence, they are likely to focus their entire attention on the Champions League this season especially given that the final is at the Allianz Arena.