THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANCHESTER, England — Soccer club Manchester United has entered into a five-year partnership with Vietnamese bank BIDV, building on the English champions’ portfolio of financial interests in the Far East.
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Manchester United’s Robin van Persie, obscured extreme left, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Aston Villa during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Monday April 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Jon Super) |
The deal will see the bank offer United fans in Viet Nam a BIDV Manchester United credit card, and it could help the club expand its appeal in a country where it is thought to have tens of millions of supporters.
Manchester United commercial director Richard Arnold says the product is a “first for both the banks and club in Viet Nam,” where “the club is lucky enough to have a large and very passionate set of fans.”
United says its “total financial services agreements cover 256 million followers across 12 countries.”
United won the English league title for the 20th time on Monday.
