Manchester City announce new sponsorship deal - with a fuels and lubricants partner - in Botswana

Partnership just latest in trend of unlikely deals being struck by Premier League clubs

A view of Manchester City's Etihad Stadium (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City have announced Vivo Energy as the club’s official fuels and lubricants partner in Botswana.

The deal is the latest of many bizarre partnerships struck between English clubs and companies in emerging markets.

The Eastlands club, who can already boast forex trading and digital sticker partners, have extended their relationship with Vivo Energy following an earlier partnership in the Ivory Coast.

Omar Berrada, the club’s commercial director, said: “We are confident we can work together to continue to provide great experiences for their customers, whilst building our presence in key markets.”

The announcement comes in the same week that club captain Vincent Kompany criticised UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations for protecting the “established order” in European football.

Under the regulations, deals such as that struck today are becoming an important source of bona fide income for the club.

Manchester City are by no means the only Premier League side to expand their commercial portfolio in foreign climes.

Their rivals at the top of the table have formed similar partnerships with tyre manufacturers and telecoms companies over the past few years. Here are some of the more peculiar ones.

ARSENAL

Capital Bank Kazakhstan JSC - Official credit and debit card partner in Kazakhstan

Cooper Tire - Official tyre partner for Europe, Russia, Middle East, South Africa and selected north African countries

Indesit - Official home appliances partner

CHELSEA

Nitto Tyre - Official tyre partner in Thailand

Grand Royal - Official whisky partner in Myanmar

Mobinil - Official mobile service partner in Egypt

MANCHESTER UNITED

Apollo Tyres - Official tyre partner for Europe (excluding Russia), India, the Middle East and Thailand

Nissin Foods Group - Official global noodle partner

Unilever - Official personal care and laundry partner for South East Asia

LIVERPOOL

3K Battery - Official car battery partner in Thailand

Dunkin’ Donuts - Official coffee, tea and bakery provider

Konica Minolta - Official print and document management partner