Memang sesuatu yang susah untuk percaya. Tetapi itulah realitinya. Nampaknya sekarang Telekom Malaysia maju setapak lagi untuk dikenali seantero dunia dengan menjadi penaja baru Manchester United (MU) sebagai satu landasan untuk kembangkan pemasaran  syarikat gergasi telekomunikasi dari Malaysia ini.

Tetapi jangan salah sangka, mereka bukannya penaja utama sehingga membuang perkataan AIG di jersi Manchester United yang ada sekarang…

Manchester United has signed Malaysia’s leading telecommunications provider, Telekom Malaysia, on a five-year deal to become its Official Integrated Telecommunications Partner in the country. The partnership will bring online content to MU supporters and Telekom Malaysia customers, as well as giving fans the chance to win trips to Old Trafford to watch the team play.

David Gill said: “Our commercial strategy continues to deliver exciting new opportunities. We know that this partnership will help the Club to speak to the millions of  fans we have in Malaysia and we are delighted that Telekom Malaysia has developed from the sponsor of our tour match into a fully-fledged  partner. We look forward to working with them.

“Anyone who went on our tour of the Far East last summer knows the strength of feeling that Malaysians have for the Club. “Over 40,000 attended our training session and another 40,000 came to the second match in Kuala Lumpur, despite only having 48 hours’ notice of the fixture.”

Director of Commercial, Richard Arnold said: “The Club is at the forefront of building relationships with its fans through digital media and this partnership helps us to maintain that position. Telekom Malaysia know all about the power of the Club to energise people in Malaysia and they have some great ideas about how to bring this deal tolife.” Dato’  Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Group CEO of Telekom Malaysia said: “We are very happy seeing two champions in their respective fields coming together in a partnership such as this; TM, one of Malaysia’s most dynamic and innovative telecoms brand, and Manchester United one the world’s most recognised sports brands and successful football clubs.

“Just like Manchester United, winning and being the best at what we’reat is our business, and that is why we believe this partnership will benefit both entities. This agreement also goes to show that anything is possible when we connect, communicate, and collaborate.”

Also in attendance at a press launch for the partnership were Sherene Azura Azli, Vice President,Group Marketing, for TM; United players Wes Brown, Jonny Evans and John O’Shea, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Sir Alex commented, “The size of our fan base in Malaysia, and the affection they have for ourclub, is phenomenal. The statistic thatalmost 25 per cent of the Malaysian population support Manchester United is staggering, quite incredible.

“I know this will be a fantastic partnership because we share the same ambition, to be the best at what we do. We’re always striving to do thathere at United. We’re very much alike in that respect.” ManUtd.com

Pada musim 2010/2011 akan datang, Syarikat Gergasi Insurans yang berpusat di Amerika, Aon Corporation telah pun membuat dan mengikat perjanjian selama 4 tahun untuk menaja pasukan bola sepak Liga Inggeris ini, Manchester United yang bernilai sekitar  £80 juta.

Jadi bukan murah dan mudah untuk letakkkan nama Telekom Malaysia di jersi Manchester United. Pasukan terkaya dunia seperti Real Madrid pun hanya dapat kontrak 4 tahun untuk jersi mereka dengan Bwin.com berjumlah £15 juta setahun. Tetapi buat masa ini, Nike masih mengeluarkan jersi Manchester United untuk tempoh setahun lagi yang tertera perkataan AIG sebagai sebahagian daripada baki kontrak mereka yang berbaki £14 juta setahun

P/S : Di sini, ada fan club Manchester United?