Manchester United given 18-month window to maximise Cristiano Ronaldo key market earning power

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as football’s most popular player in China.

The 11th annual Red Card report by digital sports agency Mailman found the United No.7 to be the most popular footballer in the country for the fourth straight year.

Ronaldo beat Neymar and Lionel Messi to the award and commented, saying: “It’s an honour to win the Red Card Award for most popular footballer online in China for the fourth year in a row. The support from fans in China has been amazing so it is important for me to continue engaging with them on social media across my Weibo and Kuaishou channels.”

Ronaldo’s popularity in China has been evident for years. In 2018, weeks after his big-money move to Juventus, he ventured on a solo ‘CR7’ tour of Beijing, not as part of Juventus’s pre-season preparations (who went to America), but as part of his brand in the country.

Thousands of Chinese fans flocked to central Beijing to get a glimpse of Ronaldo during the tour. Moreover, Ronaldo has also invested money in Chinese football, doing so for a pitch at a primary school in Longxi County, Gansu Province, so it’s hardly a surprise that Ronaldo once again leads the charts for being the most popular footballer.

Manchester United, meanwhile, finished third in the same survey for most popular clubs in the country. They were sixth last year, but it seems Ronaldo’s return has propelled them up the ranking table.

This is something United need to maximise this summer.

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