Once upon a time in the not too distant past, advertisements featuring sportspeople were at their peak. Think Eric Cantona, a cage, a football and an Elvis Pressley backing track. Think Jason Mcateer dreaming and Ireland winning the World Cup.
Today is a different story. With the growth of social media and more image-conscious footballers, the whole industry has expanded and declined simultaneously.
Footballers are aware that they can use social media to manipulate get closer to fans, and allow them an intimate glimpse into their lives try to flog them various types of boots, protein shakes and cheap shampoo.
Whereas Cristiano Ronaldo has 36 million twitter followers to whom he can advertise his own clothing brand, some more mortal footballers have to be content with more prosaic endorsements.
Liverpool's Simon Mignolet is such an example. Today he combined relative football anonymity with the most contrived import of the sporting vernacular since the IRS gave FIFA the red card in the World Cup of Fraud to remind us all how far we have fallen.
Thankfully I made another good save. Thanks @firstratefx! pic.twitter.com/w6WNAiuexi
— Simon Mignolet (@SMignolet) June 9, 2015
FirstRateFX describe themselves as international monetary experts who aid their customers in finding the best exchange rates. Mignolet may be best advised not getting too close to the company, before Liverpool realise how much they are paying him.
