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United complete record shirt deal

United chief executive David Gill, right, listens to coach Alec Ferguson.

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United have announced a four-year shirt sponsorship deal with U.S. insurance company AIG Inc., worth 56.5 million pounds ($98.98 million).

The deal, the biggest of its kind in English football, will start next season.

It was hailed as "a blue chip deal for a blue chip club" by United chief executive David Gill.

"AIG's global operations complement our great fan base and we are excited about the global prospects this relationship brings," he added.

United's 9 million pounds ($15.74 million) a year deal with current shirt sponsors Vodafone finishes at the end of this season after the mobile phone giants pulled out two years early to switch their allegiance to the Champions League, Europe's top club competition.

"Let's be clear," said Gill. "We passed up the opportunity to do the world's biggest shirt deal to do the right shirt deal, one that is right for Manchester United and one that underlines our position as the world's leading club.

"We are looking to be more accessible to our global fan base, and having a partner with the knowledge and experience of AIG is invaluable," Gill said.

"AIG has over 250,000 employees and agents in Asia alone -- a region where we have an estimated 40 million fans. This deal presents both of us with so many possibilities."

Martin Sullivan, president and CEO of AIG, said:"We believe this relationship will mutually benefit both organizations and we look forward to maximizing the value of this high-profile sponsorship to help grow AIG's businesses around the world."

Widely expected

Today's announcement had been widely expected following the breakdown of negotiations with Mansion, who publicly accused United of "double-dealing" on Monday after confirming that United's commercial director Andy Anson had terminated discussions with their company on Sunday evening.

Anson has been widely criticized by some vocal sections of the United support for his failure to secure a replacement more swiftly but he was extensively involved in talks over a new deal, along with Gill and director Bryan Glazer.

The club's officials have been angered at frequent suggestions that the much-cherished 'United' brand had been badly tarnished by the Malcolm Glazer takeover and the figures involved in the AIG deal prove that the American's controversial buy-out has not diminished United's standing in the commercial world.

Gill declared: "On and off the pitch, Manchester United always seeks to be both the first and the best.

"We do things differently to others. Whether it's our faith in our Academy over the years, or our approach to sponsors -- we are unique.

"The Manchester United shirt is the most iconic image in world sport and the chance for companies to appear on it is very rare. This deal re-establishes the club firmly among the most valuable names in world sport."

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