I see what you're saying. They're sporting philosophy is good I'll give them that which gives them the edge over clubs hollowed out by the blood stained, oil soaked shovels like Man City and PSG. They give chances to many many youngsters who would otherwise have fallen by the wayside but Red Bull this, Red Bull that? Don't need that.
But the worst thing is probably the hijacking of local identity for corporate means. The beauty of club football is that clubs should all stem from the roots of thousands/millions of separate communities across the world and in turn reflect the best values of these communities.
The likes of Red Bull try to place 'community' in brand attachment. Which is quite sad.
But do they really accomplish that, if that is their goal? The pictures I saw of the traveling support yesterday looked very much like a group support a "local" football team, thoroughly enjoying a day at one of the biggest venues in the world, marching from city centre and soaking it all in. Those people weren't thinking about Red Bull at all, is my guess. they were out supporting their club.
But as you say, the business has invested a lot of money in various clubs and set up a good player identification and development model (that has helped to give us one of our best players, btw). Yes, they have tried to put their name on the club(s), it's still the club those local supporters have supported over the years. If people are just reacting to corporate involvement with them and the Leipzig club, well those same people are likely always crying out for more investment in their own club, especially for player transfers. "Somebody pony up some money so we can buy X"
Well Red Bull seems to have done that. If they are chastised for expecting something in return re public relations or marketing, well so do every other shirt sponsor and other type of sponsor all clubs, including Liverpool sponsors.
It's easy to just shout to the mob and say "Down with the corporations!" But investment is needed at the top competitive levels of world football. It's up to the people making up the club to preserve the local and historic identity of that club and in truth, I don't think even the richest companies in the world could steal that beautiful culture and identity from Liverpool.
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