Rashford 'smelling of roses' as United seal record sleeve sponsorship with SumUp

Manchester United have signed a record sleeve sponsorship deal with global fintech company SumUp, surpassing the value of their existing training kit arrangement with Betway — reported to be worth approximately £20 million annually — though the precise figure has not been disclosed. The SumUp branding will debut on United’s first-team shirts when they host Azerbaijani side Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday in the opening match of the revamped Champions League league phase, and will also appear on the academy and women’s teams’ kits.

The commercial announcement comes as United manager Michael Carrick looks to build momentum after a stuttering start to the Premier League season. The Red Devils have collected just four points from their opening three league matches, sitting 11th in the table after being held to a 2-2 draw by Everton deep into stoppage time on Sunday.

Despite the dropped points at Goodison Park, club legend Peter Schmeichel singled out Marcus Rashford for praise following the winger’s performance. Rashford has returned to the United squad after loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona, and Schmeichel believes the forward is showing signs of recapturing his best form.

“Coming away from that game, Rashford is now smelling of roses,” Schmeichel told Viaplay. “I thought he was absolutely fantastic.”

The former United goalkeeper drew comparisons with the version of Rashford who scored 30 goals in a single season. “It just shows that there’s some intent now for Marcus to go back to what he was for Manchester United four years ago,” Schmeichel said. “He was playing like this — seeing his team-mates, putting them in, getting the ball into good positions, stepping up, getting the ball into the box. He wasn’t trying to do everything himself, trying to be dangerous.”

“If that’s what we get for this season, welcome back, Marcus. We have missed you, because he is then one of the top players in the world.”

United’s European campaign begins against Sabah before attention turns to Sunday’s Manchester derby, giving Carrick’s side the chance to arrest their early-season inconsistency on two fronts in quick succession.