Neville buys YouTuber’s channels
Matt Lawton - Chief Sports Correspondent
Gary Neville has expanded his media business with the purchase of the Manchester United influencer Mark Goldbridge’s YouTube channels in what is understood to be a seven-figure deal.
Goldbridge, a former police officer whose real name is Brent Di Cesare, has acquired more than 3.7 million subscribers across his channels with his often explosive rants about United’s performances.
His business, which features the shows The United Stand and That’s Football, has now been acquired by the Neville-led The Overlap for an undisclosed amount.
In a statement issued yesterday morning, The Overlap said it is seeking to build “one of the most exciting football communities in the world”.
Goldbridge will continue to front both channels as part of “a significant expansion” of Neville’s growing media empire.
The United Stand will be extended to include a new show called Stick to United, which will feature former players and journalists.
There will also be something called The Daily United, which will provide news on Neville’s former club. Other major clubs across Europe will also be targeted in The Overlap’s latest expansion.
Neville, 51, who is the executive director of The Overlap, said: “We are building what we believe will become one of the most exciting independent football communities in the world — one that gives fans direct, personality-led content.”
Goldbridge said that the deal would allow him to “take what I do to the next level”.
This deal follows the news in January that Global, the major commercial radio company, had acquired a majority stake in The Overlap, initially a football podcast and YouTube channel that has expanded to become a media business covering several sports.
In August last year Goldbridge won the rights to stream 20 Bundesliga games.
It was the first time an online content creator had been included in such a deal.
