Manchester United Set to Start India Journey in Chennai

The artistry of English football, from head balls to rabona kicks, may soon make its mark in India. Manchester United, one of the world's most popular football clubs, is reportedly planning to establish a football training center in Tamil Nadu. With around 35 million fans in India, according to YouGov data, the club aims to tap into this massive fanbase. Sources say that top Manchester United officials recently met with Tamil Nadu's industry team at the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss the project, it will likely start in Chennai.

A source close to the development stated, "Manchester United is exploring the prospect of bringing global standards of football training to Tamil Nadu, especially for women, highlighting the state’s emerging status as a global sports hub."

Although several football clubs have formed partnerships with Indian teams in the past, such as Rangers with Bengaluru, Borussia Dortmund with Hyderabad, Fiorentina with FC Pune, and Atletico Madrid with Atletico de Kolkata in the early days of the ISL, this marks the first time a major club will establish a training center in India is often called a "sleeping giant" in football. This could create long-term opportunities for Indian talent to make a mark on the global stage. The English Premier League remains the most popular team sport league worldwide.

At Davos, Tamil Nadu rebranded itself with the #BullishOnTN campaign, highlighting its AI-ready workforce through government programs and partnerships with tech leaders. The Naan Mudhalvan initiative, focused on upskilling, attracted strong interest from companies.

Tamil Nadu highlighted its potential as a hub for research, development, and advanced manufacturing, engaging in over 50 meetings to promote the state's growing opportunities.

TRB Rajaa, Minister of Industry, stated, “Our goal is to see that world-class innovations get their start in our state, scaling up from here to global markets. It is a part of our broader agenda to start designing and developing products in Tamil Nadu and not just manufacturing them.” 

“What we are witnessing is a direct outcome of the state’s robust human capital, our forward-thinking policies, and the readiness of Tamil Nadu to accommodate next-generation industries,” said Arun Roy, Industries Secretary.

Further, “From food processing and agro-forest ventures to advanced electronics and pharma GCC expansions, we see a wide range of sectors recognising Tamil Nadu’s potential to foster and sustain cutting-edge R&D," Roy added.

The Tamil Nadu team highlighted the state's advantages to investors, including a skilled workforce, advanced infrastructure, and a strong focus on skill development. Both established and new industries showed interest, with long-standing players planning expansions and R&D enhancements, while newcomers explored new operations. Talks with major automotive and electronics firms hinted at plans to shift more supply chain operations to Tamil Nadu.

Although details remained confidential, several promising leads were confirmed, including a positive response from an electronics giant to expand its manufacturing presence in the state.

Tamil Nadu is emerging as a digital infrastructure hub with plans for two new data centre investments. Additionally, a global food processor is eyeing investment in FMCG products, while a superfood giant is considering entry due to the state's strong logistics and agriculture base.

Two major finance players are planning Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in Tamil Nadu, while two pharma companies are considering expanding their GCCs and setting up manufacturing plants. The state's TN Knowledge City initiative has attracted international universities for research collaborations. Bilateral talks with various governments aim to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s global economic ties and position it as a hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation.