A report from Mundo Deportivo has claimed that negotiators from Nike met with Barcelona delegates yesterday to present an enthusiastic offer as they aim for a contract extension with the Catalan team.
The report affirms that the North American company is aiming to ink a fresh deal spanning ten seasons, sweetening the pot with an economic bonus for this campaign.
Interestingly, this move could potentially tackle the salary “fair play” issues that Barcelona are facing at the moment.
Recent developments reveal Nike’s strong interest in retaining the club’s partnership and just yesterday, key executives from the American multinational convened in Barcelona for a crucial summit.
Barcelona are now considering Nike
The meeting came on the heels of high-level negotiations in Paris last week, where representatives from Barcelona, including Vice President Rafa Yuste and Vice President of Marketing Juli Guiu, met with counterparts from Nike.
While President Joan Laporta is not directly involved in these talks, he has entrusted a dedicated team with clear directives, notably aiming for the most lucrative sports sponsorship deal in the club’s history.
Although Nike’s efforts are acknowledged, they have not yet met Barcelona’s expectations.
Nike ready to up the offer
For now, negotiations have revolved around revising the contract for the upcoming decade, with Nike proposing an increased fixed rate and additional bonus tied to the club’s 125th anniversary.
Such enhancements could significantly bolster Barcelona’s financial standing, especially regarding adhering to salary fair play regulations.
Despite ongoing legal proceedings reinforcing Nike’s current contractual ties with Barcelona until 2028, the sportswear giant continues to sweeten its offer.
In fact, this proposal should be one of the largest in the history of sports sponsorship, although it still does not meet what the club is expecting.
Amidst all this, Barcelona are also entertaining competitive bids from Puma and exploring the possibility of in-house kit production.
For now, it is expected that Barcelona are Nike will continue to work on the current contract while exploring all avenues possible.
