Tony Fernandes, chairman of Malaysian budget airline AirAsia, wrote on his blog that Manchester United invited his company to consider a shirt sponsorship deal.

AIG, the current shirt sponsor, are embroiled in the current financial crisis and won’t renew their deal beyond 2010. With the West consumed by the economic crisis, it looks like Manchester United are looking to the Middle East and Asia for potential sponsors.

Getting on the shirt of Manchester United would be a coup for the Malaysian budget airline if the price is right because Manchester United are one of the most watched teams on the planet.

Given the financial crisis with corporations slashing their budgets, the price for gracing the shirt of one of England’s most storied football teams will certainly come down by a reasonable amount.

A four-year contract is reportedly worth US$100 million.

Fernandes too is of the opinion that the best time to build a brand is during a recession.

"People are asking me why we are launching this league in this current financial situation,” said Fernandes earlier this year during the press conference for the launch of the ASEAN Basketball League, of which he is also the chairman. “However, I believe that this is the best time to build up your brand."

A reader of Fernandes’ blog, going by the name of amok, doesn’t think the sponsorship will be a good idea though. He wrote:

“AirAsia doesn’t need Man U’s endorsement let alone pay millions for it. The company has already made it’s name and I see no reason why it should contribute to the obscene amounts Man U’s millionaire players are already making. You know for a fact they would have sent out that sponsorship pack to many other companies hoping that one would say yes and help fill their coffers. So please don’t be the one that said yes.

“Like someone else said in an earlier comment, if you want to help football, help local football. Good knows they need it. Put your money in there with conditions. Clear out the current batch of incompetent officials and administrators and start fresh. Help out local football and you’ll win the undying gratitude of the long suffering local fans, sponsor Man U and you’ll only line the pockets of the Old Trafford fat cats.”