Man City cult hero making fortune from inflatable banana business amid 114 charges scandal

Former Manchester City player Imre Varadi has seen business boom thanks to a revival of the inflatable banana craze from the 1980s and 1990s. The cult hero is affectionately known as ‘Imre Banana’.

He joined the club in the 1980s, with fans taking inflatable bananas to away games. It eventually died down, but has seen a revival amid the guilty verdict handed down to City over their Premier League charges.

City are appealing the decision, meaning that the wait for a final outcome goes on. If they are unsuccessful, then the club could face a big punishment, which could include points deductions or even being expelled from the Premier League.

In their first game since the news of the verdict, the away end at Anfield was full of inflatable bananas. It’s something that Varadi has been able to cash in on, having launched his own company selling them.

“The craze has taken off again,” he told The Sun. “It will be 40 years next year since it began and is ingrained in City’s history, so I’m proud to be a part of it.

“I launched my own company - as now the inflatable business is a billion-dollar industry. And I’m the actual ‘Imre Banana’ who played for City, wore the No 9 and scored goals for them!

“To see so many bananas in the away end at Anfield was really special. And this weekend’s game against Ipswich is just going to be unbelievable.

“I’m getting thousands of orders from all over the world - demand has absolutely gone through the roof.”

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The 67-year-old will be a special guest at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday as the club host Ipswich Town. The match will be the first Premier League encounter at home since the verdict was announced.

“The club want to see the entire Etihad holding bananas!” Varadi added. “City invited me and my family to the game and are giving us the VIP treatment.”

The striker played for City for two years between the years of 1986 and 1988, before leaving to join Sheffield Wednesday. In his time at the club, he scored 19 goals and provided one assist in 59 appearances.

City were one of several English clubs Varadi played for during his long career. He made the most appearances for Newcastle United, but also played for Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion and Everton, among others.

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