FC Barcelona’s off-the-field instability continues as they look to switch their current kit manufacturer due to dissatisfaction with their current deal. The Spanish club is in talks with Nike about their current deal that runs till 2028.
Nike and FC Barcelona have been in partnership since 1998. The American Multinational Association designed Barcelona’s Centenary Shirt in 1999 which was a big hit among the fans and laid the foundation of a strong partnership between the entities.
Fast-forward to 2023, the relationship is starting to get rocky with the ongoing financial struggles of FC Barcelona. The Spanish club is focusing on shirt sponsorship to ease their financial burden. As per Sport, the Spanish club is under the impression after consultation from various valuation firms that their current deal with Nike is below the market price.
The current deal with Nike that was signed in 2016 earns the club $114 million per season in guaranteed income per season and can reach up to $169 million per season with variables. The current deals run till 2028 which aims to run their collaboration to reach a full 30 years.
🚨 New Balance wants to become the new kit supplier for Barcelona!
Tensions exist between Nike and Barça. ⚡️
The Spanish club, which is linked to Nike until 2028, believes that its current contract, which is worth €155m per season is lower than the market price. ❌
Puma has… pic.twitter.com/pJ0OyRyF5o
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) December 1, 2023
Barcelona wants to continue the current contract but wants to renegotiate with Nike to increase the current payout which reflects the current valuation of the Spanish club. Nike currently holds the upper hand due to the contract length, but wouldn’t want to lose Barcelona considering the ties of Adidas with Real Madrid.
The current instability has attracted the attention of New Balance and PUMA who might be willing to offer better terms to Barcelona to gain one of the biggest clubs in soccer. Kit deals are one of the biggest sources of income for any club, and FC Barcelona wants to milk this resource as much as possible due to their current financial instability.
FC Barcelona wants to lease the naming rights of their current backup stadium to Nike
Barcelona and club President, Joan Laporta values the relationship with Nike which is why the club has looking for alternative ways to provide value to the American company to gain fresh and improved terms on their current contract. One of the ways that was recently reported was to provide the naming rights of their current stadium.
FC Barcelona is currently playing at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys as their main stadium, Camp Nou, is under renovation till November 2024. The naming rights of Camp Nou have already been sold to Spotify for $305 million but Nike is tempted with the naming rights of Estadi Olimpic till October 2024.
📍 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys pic.twitter.com/b5lDU4JxJ3
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) November 28, 2023
The major pushback that Barcelona faces in this regard is that Estadi Olimpic is owned by the Barcelona city council and bears the name of the former President of Catalonia. It is highly unlikely that the city council will allow Nike’s name on the government property. This scenario opens the door for New Balance and PUMA to snatch Barcelona away from Nike.