Air France to Become PSG Kit Sponsor?
One week ago, we reported that Qatar Airways would be interested in sponsoring Paris Saint-Germain, replacing Fly Emirates. Now usually well-informed Paris SG fan site Paris United has disclosed that Paris-Saint-Germain has begun discussions with Air France to become the club's new main sponsor.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi already revealed last summer that the contract with Fly Emirates will be not extended beyond the 2018-19 season.
"With Fly Emirates, there was an exclusivity for the jersey that has ended and we are now talking with other candidates," said President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi last summer, thus formalizing the upcoming end of the collaboration between the PSG and the United Arab Emirates airline.
PSG Often Criticized For Over-Reliance on its Qatari Sponsors
Paris United reports that PSG would consider replacing Fly Emirates with another airline: Air France KLM.
The club launched its seduction campaign by inviting Air France's new CEO, Benjamin Smith and the group's Marketing Director to a private visit to the Parc des Princes. They were also invited to return to the skybar during the PSG-Liverpool Champions League match on 28 November. As a strong sign of the club's desire to partner with the Air France brand, the Parisian hosts also offered their two visitors flocked PSG jerseys from the Air France sponsor.
Paris-Saint-Germain is often criticised for its over-reliance on its Qatari partners like QNB, Ooredoo and Qatar Airways. However, Air France seems for the moment to be rather reluctant to cooperate, for several reasons. The first obstacle would come from PSG's "bling-bling" image and with which the airline would not wish to be associated. Instead, the latter would encourage a partnership with the capital club. Then, for financial reasons: the PSG hopes to obtain from this sponsorship a sum of nearly 60 million euros, while Air France does not seem inclined to put more than 30 million euros to see its brand displayed on the French champion's jersey.
PSG also offers the possibility of taking two sponsors for its jersey. The idea would be to have an L1 and a sponsor for the Champions League, like the PSG during the Canal + era.
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