Commercial partnership gone mad as Dwight Yorke launches Manchester United-branded tractor

We want to make a joke about Manchester United’s agricultural style of play this season, but it just won’t come to us.

Instead we’ll have to fall back on our favourite agrarian slogan of all time: if a Massey is classy, a Zetor is better. Unfortunately nothing really rhymes with Yanmar, the engine manufacturer who on Thursday announced their continued partnership with Manchester United. The Japan-based company are the club’s first “agricultural vehicle partner”, although why a football club would need one of those is beyond us. And to celebrate this momentous news, Dwight Yorke had the honour of launching a specially branded Manchester United tractor this week in Thailand.   https://twitter.com/NinjaTooK/status/705333270507032576 A Yanmar spokesperson breathlessly commented on what a proud day for the company it was.

“Thailand is the most important market for Yanmar and the best way to deliver our strong message to make people’s lives more affluent in Thailand is to collaborate with Manchester United. "As a result of our discussion over two years, we are finally able to announce the Manchester United collaboration tractor.”

And while the tractor may look all nice there on its stand, it appears a little lightweight. Could it do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke, or a boggy Thursday morning in Borris-on-Ossory? We're not so sure. But just look how proud Dwight Yorke is. Or is it embarrassment. Hard to tell.