‘distraught’ United Bank On New Sponsor

Manchester United, who suffered Champions League heartbreak on Tuesday night, has further enhanced its portfolio of global partners after confirming a new partnership with Danish online financial services provider Ekspres Bank.

As part of the four-year sponsorship, the company will exclusively produce and market the official Ekspres Bank Manchester United Credit Card to its customers, as well as the Barlcays Premier League club’s Danish fan base. 

The club has a long affiliation with Denmark, John Sivebaek scored the first United goal under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, before club legend Peter Schmeichel established himself as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the game during his time at the club, winning five titles, two FA Cups and a treble. 

The card will offer a range of club-related benefits and incentives including prize draws to win tickets to watch United play at Old Trafford and ‘money-cannot-buy’ experiences, such as watching the first team train.

Ekspres Bank chief executive John Poulsen added: ‘We are proud to be offering the Manchester United Credit Card to the Danish market where there is a strong support for the Manchester United team and we feel privileged to be working with Manchester United to create a product with Manchester United benefits that we can offer to all the fans in Denmark. Ekspres Bank has 25 years’ experience in Denmark and has a strong basis for offering a Visa card which appeals broadly to the Danish market.’

Last night, Manchester United’s Champions League ambitions ended in controversial circumstances that left manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his players enraged at Old Trafford.

United looked on course for a place in the quarter-finals – leading Real Madrid 1-0 – before Nani was sent off for an aerial challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa, with the visitors scoring twice in three minutes against the ten men. 

Assistant manager Mike Phelan replaced Ferguson at the post-match media conference and said: ‘It’s a distraught dressing room and a distraught manager. That’s why I am sitting here now.’

In better news for the club, last month the Red Devils revealed a significant rise in profits for the second half of 2012, with pre-tax profits growing to £22.3 million.