FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta is very delighted about the extension of the Nike sponsorship deal until 2013. After Laporta saw his team comfortably beating Recreativo 3-0 on Saturday night, the Brca president commented on the new Nike deal that brings in a minimum of € 150 mill. plus bonuses over the next 5 years:

We are very pleased that Nike considers Barça the best team in the world. The company has made a huge effort to support Barcelona's caring position as more than a club in the world. We are heading in the right direction in all areas of the club.

"EL MUNDO DEPORTIVO" reported over the weekend that German sport equipment producer PUMA tabled a firm offer of € 127.5 mill. for 5 years to supply FC Barcelona with PUMA sports gear from 2008, if US giant NIKE, current provider of Barca, does not match or exceed the rivals offer.
The existing contract with NIKE explicitly allows FC Barcelona to negotiate with other rival companies. Barca president Joan Laporta admitted at the Basketball final of the Catalan League in Girona, that FC Barcelona has been in negotiations to improve the conditions of the club´s equipment contract.


The contract with current Barca supplier NIKE had been signed in 1997 and the US giant pay an estimated € 15 mill. plus a participation in the merchandising to supply Barca officially with their sport equipment.

NIKE officials as well as PUMA officials did not want to comment the reports whereas Barca president Laporta admitted the negotiations in Girona. Laporta told "EL MUNDO DEPORTIVO":

We have a current contract until 2008 and we are willing to fulfill it, but we are negotiating to improve the current conditions. We want to increase the income of the club.

PUMA would pay € 22 mill. in the first season and then € 23.5, 25.0, 27.0 and 30 in the 4 seasons thereafter, a total of € 127.5 mill. in five seasons.


PUMA is already sponsor of Barca´s top striker Samuel Eto´o, World Champions Italy, Guti, Buffon and Formula 1 pilot Michael Schumacher.

FC BArcelona Blog already reported some time ago that AUDI and FC Barcelona will agree on a sponsorship deal. Since yesterday, the deal is official. The German car manufacturer AUDI will become an official sponsor and supplier of FC Abrcelona for the next two seasons.


The presentation of the deal was attended by Audis Spanish division manager Jesús Gasanz and FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta, as well as a selection of Frank Rijkaard's team. Audi presented models of its brand new Audi Q7s to each member of the FC Barcelona first team.


Audi has become the first official FC Barcelona sponsor to also secure advertising rights, which involves the right to associate itself to the club's name and create joint marketing ventures involving both the team and the company.

After more than 100 years tonights match will go down in Barca´s history books as the first match ever in which Barca will wear the UNICEF logo on their famous Barca shirts.
Instead of wearing a company logo, (vsalue about € 20 mill. per year), Barca proves that they are "mes que un club" ("More than a Club"). Tonight, the team will appear on the pitch with the UNICEF Logo, to promote the UN´s millennium goal.

A special event will be held in honour, shortly before the game´s kick-off.

FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard is delighted with the five-year agreement between UNICEF and Barca.
After more than one hundred years, the team shirt will finally carry a sponsor logo. Barca was proud to be the only among the big clubs that has never worn a company logo on their shirt. But this will change for the first time tonight. But this is not the usual kind of sponsorship. The club will be promoting worldwide solidarity via UNICEF. An initiative that the Barca coach Rijkaard is very proud to be involved in:

I think it's splendid. It is an act of generosity. Something never seen before in the football world. I love it, it is something historic, and the board should be congratulated.