Manchester United commercial director Richard Arnold has insisted that the club does not buy players to boost brand recognition and shirt sales.
Manchester United commercial director Richard Arnold has insisted that the club does not buy players to boost brand recognition and shirt sales as Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa nears a pounds 14 million move to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund.
Kagawa, who confirmed last week that he has spoken to United manager Sir Alex Ferguson over a move to the club, is expected to be the first summer arrival at Old Trafford following Eden Hazard's decision to reject United in favour of a move to Chelsea.
The 23 year-old was watched by Ferguson and assistant Mike Phelan during Dortmund's German Cup Final victory against Bayern Munich recently and has been described as potentially the biggest star to emerge from the Far East since former Japan striker Hidetoshi Nakata.
Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc admitted in Germany on Tuesday that a deal with United is close, with only "some details to be confirmed". But, although the Jan 2010 bond prospectus issued by United confirmed that, "Our popularity in certain countries or regions may depend, at least in part, on fielding certain players from those countries or regions," Arnold, the club's senior commercial figure, insisted individual players such as South Korean midfielder Ji-sung Park do not drive United's earnings and popularity.
"We don't sign players to sell shirts." Arnold said. "We are reliant on 25 players and they are all massive stars. We have 25 George Clooneys.
"When you look at the success we've seen in that part of the world [Asia], it isn't down to any one player or person. For Manchester United, it's more than any one player. It was more than George Best, it was more than Bryan Robson, it was more than David Beckham, it was more than Cantona, than Park."
United last night announced the results of a global football follower survey, carried out by market research company Kantar, which claimed that the club have 659 million global followers.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}