The rise of Manchester City as a global football powerhouse under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group has had significant implications beyond the pitch. According to reports, the club's international profile transformed it into a powerful tool for city officials seeking to foster economic ties abroad.

In July 2016, a trade mission led by Sir Howard Bernstein, a central figure in Manchester’s urban development, leveraged the club's popularity to engage potential investors in China. By utilizing club legends such as Mike Summerbee and Sun Jihai, civic leaders conducted a high-profile charm offensive aimed at football-enthusiastic Chinese business leaders. This effort was part of a larger strategy to position Manchester as a prime destination for international capital.

While the report focuses on the intersection of sports and civic promotion, it suggests that the club's success was instrumental in the political landscape of the region, specifically noting its role in the rise of Andy Burnham. The narrative emphasizes that the club’s transformation into an international megastar brand provided a unique platform for local leadership to project influence and secure economic partnerships that might otherwise have been difficult to establish.