By Gareth Messenger
May 30 – It’s official, Emirates Airline has confirmed a four-year sponsorship deal with Spanish club Real Madrid believed to be in the region of around €120 million.
As reported in insideworldfootball last month, the new partnership will promote the Dubai-based airline carrier as the main shirt sponsor of the Madrid club starting from the 2013/2014 season.
Real Madrid made the announcement on their official club website adding that an endorsed ceremony would take place today (Thursday) at the club’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez will attend the official service accompanied by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates.
10 days ago Emirates extended their shirt sponsorship deal with newly crowned French champions Paris St Germain – now a €25 million per season, five-year deal. Emirates also has Italian club AC Milan’s shirt sponsorship as well as being the shirt sponsor of Premier League side Arsenal, and owning the club’s stadium naming rights in North London.
The new deal sees Emirates replace Madrid’s current shirt sponsors, online betting firm Bwin. The Bwin sponsorship was estimated to be around €40 million.
Real Madrid’s fierce La Liga rivals FC Barcelona recently announced a deal to have Qatar Airways as their official shirt sponsors. The Emirates sponsorship brings an intriguing symmetry to the battkes in the air and on the pitch.
German side Bayern Munich receives about $35m annually from its deal with Deutsche Telekom, while Manchester United’s agreement with insurer Aon is worth $30m every year.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1735823360labto1735823360ofdlr1735823360owedi1735823360sni@r1735823360egnes1735823360sem.h1735823360terag1735823360. Gareth is Editor-in-Chief, www.laliganews.tv @G_Messenger