Russian Deputy Prime Minister Slams Airline Aeroflot For Sponsoring Manchester United

Russia Deputy PM Dmitry Rogozin, "renowned for his populist anti-Western stance," spoke out against national airline carrier Aeroflot’s decision to sponsor ManU "rather than plowing funds into domestic sports teams," according to R-SPORT. Rogozin tweeted, "Aeroflot prefers Anglo-Saxon football and basketball clubs?" Rogozin, "also known for his dry sense of humor," added, "I might just invite them to my place for a heart-to-heart chat." Aeroflot also sponsors NBA side Brooklyn Nets. If Rogozin "is serious about hoping to reshape the company's marketing strategy, he might not get very far." Aeroflot is 51% government-owned (R-SPORT, 7/30). In London, Harriet Alexander reported Aeroflot, one of the oldest airlines in the world, signed a five-year sponsorship deal with ManU in July. The airline "is already a sponsor" of CSKA Moscow FC and the 2014 Sochi Olympics (TELEGRAPH, 7/30).