Dr Dan: Man United basking in ‘Ronaldo effect’ after £64m windfall secured
Man United are starting to see the benefits of the “Ronaldo effect” in terms of their commercial income.
So says finance expert and new Football Insider columnist Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively about United’s latest quarterly report.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, re-signed for United from Juventus in August after 12 years away from Old Trafford.
The latest figures, which take into account the three months leading to September, show United earned £64.4million in commercial income.
That is a 7.9 per cent increase on the same period last year, when pandemic restrictions shackled the club’s commercial capacities.
Plumley claims that Ronaldo is now beginning to show his influence on the balance sheet as well as on the pitch.
“We’re starting to see the Ronaldo effect from a commercial point of view,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“That comes from merchandising and retail but also the matchday income in terms of football tourists.
“They haven’t had that for the last 18 months. It all combines together and contributes to these figures.
“United have been less impacted by the pandemic because of how much of a global brand they are and the commercial benefits that come with that.
“It will take a couple of years to see the full impact but we are starting to see that Ronaldo is having a positive effect.“
Ronaldo has nine goals in 14 matches despite United’s dismal form which led to Ole Gunnar Solskhaer’s dismissal on 21 November.
In other news, John Wenham reveals what Tim Vickery has told him about Mauricio Pochettino quitting PSG for Man United.