East Bengal are desperately looking for sponsors to host English Premier League giants Manchester United for a dream clash, later this year.
A Manchester United delegation did a recce for the match, planned as per their ongoing centenary celebrations, but with the budget estimated to be Rs 30-crore plus, East Bengal are now in a quandary.
"They are happy and have submitted the report after the inspection. After May we can decide whether they would play or not. As of now we are busy with finding a new investors," East Bengal executive member Debabrata Sarkar told PTI.
East Bengal said that the club is trying its best to get Premier League giants to play a pre-friendly against them.
United have agreed to the match but their hefty appearance fee is making the Kolkata giants think twice about the move, according to the club's executive committee member Debabrata Sarkar.
"We had a meeting today. We are trying our best to make it happen and will see what all possibilities we can explore," Debabrata Sarkar, who is an executive member of East Bengal, told IANS.
“They are ready to play here, but their appearance fee is huge. I cannot tell the amount, but it is something we need to consider. We are not thinking about it now. We will take a call after May.”Debarata Sarkar, Executive Member of East Bengal
Having severed ties with current sponsors Quess Corp who are set to leave after the end of the season, East Bengal are looking for sponsors.
On the field too East Bengal are going through a rough patch having suffered four defeats from five matches, including a derby debacle to slip to seventh in the table.
East Bengal's Bengaluru-based title sponsors Quess Corp drew criticism in social for the performance as they have posted an apology.
"QEBFC management expresses its sincere regret and apology for any statement/comment which have hurt our fan base and anyone in the East Bengal Family," it said in their tweet post.
Last month, shoes were thrown at Quess East Bengal CEO Sanjit Sen and COO Biswajit Chatterjee following their 1-3 loss to Gokulam Kerala in an I-League match in Kalyani.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)