Manchester City shake hands on collaboration deal to focus on fanbase in India | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City have shaken hands on a collaborative deal that will see an added focus placed on the club’s supporter base in India.

It is the latest move from Etihad Stadium bosses to continue the remarkable growth of the football club across the globe, further capitalising on the expanded support that has come in light of the most recent successes under Pep Guardiola.

The Catalan coach and his players reached the very summit of club football in 2023 by winning the UEFA Champions League, while the maintained Premier League triumphs over the last four campaigns have further escalated their fame in a global sense.

This summer will also see Manchester City travel to the United States to compete in the expanded and revamped FIFA Club World Cup, which is being viewed as one of the most lucrative club competitions of all-time with a $1 billion prize pool available.

And alongside the opportunities to appeal to supporters Stateside in the coming months, Manchester City have now simultaneously placed attention on South Asia – where the club is believed to be rapidly growing amongst football fans.

As reported by the Economic Times, Rise Worldwide – India’s leading sports management and consulting agency – has now collaborated with Manchester City to focus on bringing to the fore tailored brand partnerships to connect with their rapidly growing fanbase in the country.

Head of Rise Worldwide, Nikhil Bardia said on the partnership, “Manchester City is among the biggest clubs globally, and we are privileged to facilitate partnerships for them in India.

“Our goal is to establish long-term alliances that not only drive business growth but also contribute to the sport’s development in the country.”

Manchester City’s parent company, City Football Group already have a financial and sporting interest in India having invested in Indian Super League side Mumbai City, before rebranding the club to suit the sky blue image of the wider portfolio of teams.

That investment was confirmed in November 2019, when it was announced that the City Football Group had bought a 65 per cent stake in the club, adding Mumbai City FC as the eighth club under their umbrella of sides across the globe.

Since the investment into the club, Mumbai City FC have established themselves as one of the most successful Indian clubs in recent times, winning the ISL League Shield and ISL Cup on two occasions each.