Air Asia CEO breaks cover over shirt sponsorship discussions with Manchester United

Air Asia's CEO Tony Fernandes has revealed that he has been in negotiations with Manchester United to discuss the possibility that the airline may replace AIG as the club's shirt sponsor. Whilst the club routinely dismisses any rumours about sponsorship negotiations and maintains a veil of secrecy until deals are actually finalised, Fernandes has come out into the open and revealed all on his blog - see www.tonyfernandesblog.com/main.php.

Fernandes says that the approach was made by Manchester United, rather than the other way around. But whether this means that the airline was singled out as a 'prime prospect' or were simply one of many to receive a standard presentation, complete with personalised shirt, can only be speculation. Certainly Fernandes, who pronounces himself "thrilled" by the offer, appears to have taken the approach as a great compliment: "I was just thrilled that we have reached a stage where Manchester United would actually 1) Think that we are a big enough brand to afford them; and 2) That they would want our brand on them". Interests A number of other names have been linked to the vacant position on United's shirts, which will become available when the AIG contract expired in May 2010. Front-runner appears to be the giant Indian conglomerate Sahara, which has interests in finance, property, media/entertainment, tourism/hospitality and the services/trading sectors.     But if previous form is anything to go by, a host of big corporations will be jockeying for position in the race to be the one with their brand emblazoned on this most prestigious sponsorship property. So ... will Air Asia be the next shirt sponsor for Manchester United? Mr. Fernandes isn't giving any more away, saying only: "Well let’s see. Remember, we are ruled not by our hearts but by our brains. Well, once in a while our heart leads us the wrong way…hahaha".