Talk of the Devils: The Athletic FC's Manchester United show Carrick’s United go for four in a row against Spurs
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Feb 5, 2026 A wide-ranging look at commercial strains behind the scenes, from sponsorship shortfalls to overseas friendly trade-offs. Debate over tactical selection with a late-impact striker versus a hungry starter. Discussion of Tottenham’s inconsistency and whether United can string wins together. Brief focus on player form including Luke Shaw and set-piece partnerships.
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Record Revenue Masks Sponsorship Gaps
- Manchester United posted record commercial revenue last season largely thanks to big deals with Adidas and Qualcomm.
- But the club now faces a sponsorship shortfall and mounting executive concern over gaps like the vacant training-kit sponsor.
Tezos Void Equals A £24m Hole
- The loss of the Tezos training-kit deal creates an estimated minimum shortfall of £24m.
- That shortfall has been raised at executive committee meetings and is a growing concern for ownership.
Staff Turnover Has Weakened Deal-Making
- United's commercial engine has changed because many staff who negotiated big deals have left.
- New, smaller commercial teams and stripped-back outreach may hinder landing equivalent major partners.