Though she had only recently entered football to become Manchester City's Director of Football, Marina Granovskaia had already proven herself a sharp operator—smart, strategic, and far more business-minded than Richard himself. So her response was, naturally, professional and blunt.
"Richard, it's a tough climate for expansion if we're thinking about entering Asia right now."
She began listing the obstacles with characteristic precision.
"First, satellite TV is only just beginning to spread in the region. Premier League matches aren't widely broadcast in East Asia yet. Japan's J.League is already well-established, but City has no visibility there. We're starting from zero."
"Second, there are few local sponsors or broadcast deals aimed at that market. That means almost no revenue streams from the region—and launching a campaign out there would be expensive, with little return in the short term."
She paused briefly before delivering the final blow.
