Manchester United's relationship with Russian Sponsor In the Balance Amid Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

• Manchester United are poised to distance themselves from Russian airline Aeroflot after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
• The Red Devils are reportedly reviewing their sponsorship deal with the airline, despite being in partnership since 2013
• Russian troops and tanks crossed the Ukrainian border on Thursday, February 24 and latest reports suggest as many as hundreds of Ukrainian troops have died in the initial wave of Russian attacks

Manchester United are reportedly reviewing their sponsorship deal with Russian airline Aeroflot in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Daily Star reports that United are keen to distance themselves from Russia, which are currently under scrutiny from world leaders for their full-scale military assault on Ukraine.

Aeroflot has been Manchester United’s sponsor since 2013, and the two parties signed a deal that was set to run until the summer of 2023.

Typically, United tend to enter negotiations to renew the deal with the airline when the previous deal enters its final 12 months.

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But with the new developments in mind and the rising tension in eastern Europe, United bosses are poised to end the partnership altogether.

This would mean the Old Trafford landlords would have to strike a deal with a new airline.

Notably, Ralf Rangick’s squad travelled with a different airline to Spain or United’s Champions League round of 16 clash against Atletico Madrid.

United travelled with an airline called Titan, as it was reportedly deemed inappropriate to travel with Aeroflot, considering everything that is currently going on.

Part of the reason United are unwilling to continue with the partnership is the potential risk on the club’s image and commercial appeal.

United’s nine-year association with the national airline of Russia has been worth £100m in total.

Brazilian football players beg for evacuation from Ukraine

Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported of how a group of Brazilian players in Ukraine have sent an urgent plea to have them evacuated from Ukraine amid growing tension.

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In a video making rounds on social media, the players, largely drawn from Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv can be seen gathered with their families in a hotel in the Ukrainian capital waiting for help.

The video, shared by journalist Arthur Quezada on Twitter shows the group of Brazilian players making an urgent appeal to the authorities in their home country to rescue them from Ukraine.