have sold training ground naming rights to main sponsor Aon for an estimated £150m, but will not do the same to Old Trafford.
In an eight-year deal with the club’s current shirt sponsors, the Carrington Training Complex will be known as the “Aon Training Complex” from July.
The agreement will mean the American insurance company also have the right to display its logo on United’s training kit for friendly and competitive domestic fixtures, while they will become the club’s presenting partners for overseas tours, starting with the trip to the Far East this summer.
Aon will provide the club with business expertise in return.
The £150m of sponsorship could go straight into Sir Alex Ferguson’s transfer fund as it would count towards Uefa’s Financial Fair Play initiative, enabling the manager to bring in new signings on big wage packages.
United have also assured concerned fans that the same sort of deal is not about to happen to rename the stadium with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward insisting on Sunday that “Old Trafford will not be sold”.
Insiders say the Glazers see Old Trafford as the “heart and soul” of the club and will not look to jeopardise that.
Aon currently sponsor United’s match kit, but General Motors’ Chevrolet division will take over in a $559 million, seven-year deal from the 2014-15 season.
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