Real Madrid could be set to sign a new deal with adidas that would eclipse the kit deal that perennial rivals Barcelona have with Nike, potentially making them the top-earning football team in the world in terms of kit sponsorship.
The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona is mirrored perfectly by the rivalry between their respective kit providers, adidas and Nike. There’s a strange symmetry about both relationships that sees each team representing each brand, and it just wouldn’t feel right if either team agreed a deal with a different supplier. That’s certainly not going to be the case for Barcelona, after the Catalan giants agreed a lucrative ten-year deal with Nike recently that’s worth a reported €105 million per season plus additional variable amounts depending on performances. Now, according to various Spanish media outlets, Real Madrid look set to join that exclusive €100 Million+ per-season club.
Early indications suggest that the new deal will be worth in the region of €100 to €120 million per season plus performance add ons. Real’s current deal has fallen below market levels after having been initially signed in the 2011/12 season. It now rakes the club in a paltry €35 million a season. This new deal is expected to last ten years and it will see Los Blancos rivalling Barca’s deal from a financial perspective.
Real Madrid have enjoyed a long standing partnership with adidas, and the German brand would have been happy to see the return of one of its favourite sons at the helm recently, when Zidane fluffed up the cushions on the manager’s chair. But they are reportedly unhappy at the amount of Nike ambassadors currently at the club and mooted as targets; players such as Vinícius Jr, Rodrigo Moreno, Eden Hazard, and Kylian Mbappe. To offset this, adidas are keen to see Paul Pogba, one of their key assets, going to Real. More weight to the rumours currently surrounding the Manchester United star… and more potential proof of brand power.
Wheels in motion...
