Kieran Maguire: Man City will expand global fanbase this summer with ‘novel’ India plan
Man City going to India in their pre-season is a “novel” idea that can expand the club’s fanbase in a rapidly growing market.
That is the opinion of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about City’s planned trip to Mumbai this summer.
Football Insider sources revealed last month that City are planning a landmark trip to India to face City Football Group member Mumbai City in pre-season.
City have highlighted commercial opportunities in India in recent seasons and have grown their presence and popularity through Mumbai City, who were acquired by CFG in 2019 when they bought a 65 per cent stake in the club.
Mumbai City won their first Indian Super League title in the 2020/21 campaign and are four points clear at the top of the table this season.
Maguire believes both clubs would hugely benefit from an intra-network friendly this summer, with the Premier League outfit aiming to gain more supporters across the globe.
“I think it’s a novel approach taken by Manchester City to consider a preseason match in India,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“It’s good for brand action.
“It’s good for Mumbai City as well to have the most famous part of the City Football Group coming to town.
“If City wants to increase their fanbase, they clearly feel that there are opportunities with some fans in India who are undecided and are thinking about getting into football as fans.
“This is a way of utilizing their existing presence in the area and also showing exactly what City have to offer.“
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