Finance guru: Man City have Erling Haaland to thank for ‘phenomenal’ £180m reveal
The “phenomenal” growth of the Man City brand is in part due to the capture of superstar hitman Erling Haaland.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the impact of the 21-year-old’s blockbuster arrival from Borussia Dortmund.
Football Insider revealed earlier this month (7 May) that City were set to activate Haaland’s £68million release clause, and the deal was announced soon after.
Research from Brand Directory meanwhile, as relayed by Sports Pro last Thursday (26 May), shows that the Premier League champions’ value has now reached £1.126billion.
This represents a £180million increase on last year and places City behind only Real Madrid in the table of football’s most valuable brands.
Plumley argues that Haaland’s arrival, as well as City’s glittering success under Pep Guardiola, is behind City’s soaring commercial appeal.
“This is phenomenal growth,” the Sheffield Hallam University exper told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“If we step back and look at the bigger picture, they are an attractive team fronted by Pep Guardiola. Look at his style of play and perceptions of him as a coach.
“He has got a raft of brilliant footballers to back him up off the pitch. The style is really important, and that links to the brand.
“Signing Haaland is a massive attraction as well. He is a brand in his own right. That will have an impact.
“You look at their operations around the world as well. Look at City Football Group’s satellite clubs around the world. For them, it’s always been about growing a global brand.
“Looking at these numbers, it appears that it’s working.”
Haaland netted 29 times and supplied eight assists in 30 matches in 2021-22.
The Norwegian is currently away with his national team ahead of their Nations League quadruple-header.
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