KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Malaysian budget airline
AirAsia <AIRA.KL> is mulling whether to become English
Premier League champions Manchester United's new shirt sponsor, the
company's Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said on his blog.
The move comes after troubled U.S. insurance giant AIG said it
would not extend its sponsorship of United beyond an existing deal
due to expire in 2010.
"Manchester United have just approached me on whether AirAsia
would be interested in becoming their shirt sponsor," Fernandes
wrote on his website (http://www.tonyfernandesblog.com)
Fernandes could not be reached for immediate comment.
AIG had a four-year $100 million deal to sponsor the club which
is home to World Player of the Year Ronaldo, but the insurer, one
of the world's biggest, had to be bailed out by U.S. taxpayers to
the tune of $152 billion due to its exposure to the ailing U.S.
mortgage market.
Indian company Sahara, Saudi Telecom and British insurer
Prudential have also been linked to United as potential
sponsors.
The club, which is the richest in England, relies on sponsorship
for around a third of its revenues.
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