“Keep Your Focus on Football”—Fans Up in Arms as Manchester United Teams Up With Adidas and British Skater to Promote the Sport

Published 09/27/2023, 9:37 AM EDT

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A surprising move from Manchester United has triggered mixed reactions in the football world, especially from Manchester United fans. The renowned soccer club ventured into uncharted territory. In partnership with Adidas, they teamed up with British skater Darius Trabalza.

The club recently released a promotional video on Instagram from within the iconic Old Trafford stadium. While this innovative partnership aims to increase the club’s brand appeal, it has also stirred quite a debate among fans. While some fans love the fresh direction, some others are yearning for the club’s former glory.

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The Instagram video featured Trabalza skating around inside the Old Trafford Stadium, donning a United-themed jersey crafted by Adidas. The caption accompanying the Instagram post simply stated, “United, it’s a lifestyle.”

Darius Trabalza, a London-based skater and artist, adds an intriguing layer to this unexpected collaboration. Sponsored by both Slam City Skates and Adidas, Darius is renowned for his effortless blend of style and technical prowess on the skateboard. Darius’s bag of tricks is nothing short of impressive, as he wants to continually push the boundaries of what’s possible in the skateboarding world.

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The club isn’t having the greatest of times in the Premier League right now. Despite being known for its dominant performance during their time under Sir Alex Ferguson, the club now looks like a shadow of its former self. Currently sitting on 9th, their woes continue, as they sit below midtable teams like Newcastle United.

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Naturally, the fans are not happy. Demanding more, fans see this advert as an attempt to cash in on the brand value, instead of “focusing on football”. Of course, they are two separate departments altogether – the marketing folks and the players live two separate lives. But all rationale goes out the window when sport is involved.

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Mixed Fan Reactions and Football Frustrations

The Manchester United faithful have not unanimously embraced this unconventional partnership. One underlying factor behind the backlash appears to be the club’s recent struggles on the football pitch. Currently languishing in 9th place in the Premier League they are a far cry away from their dominant past. Many fans believe that the club should prioritize its footballing endeavors over branding and marketing.

The discontent is further amplified by the comments section of the Instagram post. Fans vent their frustration with remarks like “Keep your focus on football” and “We are a football club, not a money-churning brand.”

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In addition to their dissatisfaction with the partnership, some fans have directed their frustration towards the team’s manager, Erik ten Hag, with calls for his dismissal gaining momentum.

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Written by:

Anirudh

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Anirudh Kidambi covers Viral Sports Moments at EssentiallySports, and has been an avid writer for over 3 years. Apart from following Formula 1, eSports and cricket, he loves to read and swim whenever he gets the chance to. If you don’t see him in front of his laptop writing, gaming or watching movies, you can find him actively participating in local quiz clubs.
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Edited by:

Arnima Shukla