Finance guru tells Man City to plot Abu Dhabi mission as talks begin – ‘there’s cash to be made’
Man City will be guaranteed to generate profit from mid-World Cup friendlies if they stage them in their owners’ homeland.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the possibility of a trip to the United Arab Emirates.
The Premier League will pause at the end of November before resuming on Boxing Day in order to accommodate the World Cup in Qatar.
The Daily Mail reported last Friday (30 September) that top-flight clubs are now holding talks about friendlies with one another in order to keep players not taking part in the competition in peak fitness.
It is understood that most matches will take place behind closed doors and at conventional venues.
Plumley explains why the likes of City might opt not to sell tickets for domestic friendlies and why going abroad is the only way to guarantee profit.
“It depends on location first and foremost,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“If it’s in another country, you can see the appeal in terms of ticket sales. If it’s at home, you have to consider the cost element of staging the game.
“A lot of the contract and sub-contract arrangements are likely signed on the basis that there will be X number of games played during the season.
“Okay, that is going to be minimal for some of the big clubs. But there is also security, medical facilities and so on. That’s what you’re balancing against the money-in element.
“Can you make enough to cover that at a time when people will be concentrating on the World Cup? There is money to be made but you have to consider extra costs.”
In other news, pundit suggests Man City could be forced into “big” payout after controversial new talks update.