MUMBAI: Abu Dhabi-owned Premier League champions Manchester City are reportedly considering a landmark visit to India ahead of the 2023-24 season kick-off.
India has never been a pre-season destination for the big European clubs because the football ecosystem here simply does not have the financial bandwidth to justify the huge costs involved in getting big-league sides over for such tours.
Big clubs like Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United are reportedly awarded up to £30 million ($37m) for such pre-season tours. They usually play 6-10 matches on such tours.
Which is why the United States or East Asia, where these clubs have established fanbases (and offer the marketing muscle to underwrite such high cost engagements), are preferred destinations.
However, Abu Dhabi’s City Football Group, which owns Manchester City, have spied commercial opportunities in India with the recent success of Hero Indian Super League club Mumbai City FC (in which CFG holds a controlling stake), Football Insider reports.
The Islanders won their first ISL title in 2020-21 and are currently seven points clear at the top thanks to a record-breaking 16-match unbeaten streak.
As per the British football site, while the Premier League giants recognise that the region’s climate could be an issue during the summer months, the club’s bean counters believe any logistical issues are offset by potential commercial inroads.
One thing that can be ruled right off the blocks as it were is that IF a visit does indeed go through, it will NOT entail a fully-fledged tour. According to Football Insider, City’s trip to the subcontinent would likely see them play a one-off match.
Previous trips to maturing markets have seen elite clubs face off against a league-wide all-star XI.
That will likely be the case as Mumbai City cannot compete with ISL rivals like Kerala Blasters, East Bengal or Mohun Bagan when it comes to fan following.
