Rakuten Could Remain Barcelona Main Sponsor - Nike Could Force Barça To Pay For Printing Costs Of Sponsor

It already seemed to be certain that FC Barcelona will have a new main sponsor from the 2022-2023 season. Now usually well-informed Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo reports that Rakuten could remain FC Barcelona's sponsor beyond summer 2022.

FC Barcelona to Sign Socios Sleeve Sponsorship Deal

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Last week, it emerged that FC Barcelona apparently has completed the negotiation for a sleeve sponsor - Chiliz (Socios - "$BAR" fan token) will certainly become the club's new sleeve sponsor.

Rakuten Could Extend FC Barcelona Main Sponsor Deal

According to Mundo Deportivo, there have been new contacts between the club and Rakuten. FC Barcelona do not rule out the possibility of reactivating the relationship with the Japanese e-commerce and audiovisual content company owned by Hiroshi Mikitani.

Rakuten "had not been too happy with the association with FC Barcelona". However, owner Mikitani was weaving a good relationship with Gerard Piqué, to the point that he became a sponsor of his Davis Cup and also of the latest tour of a world star of the song as is his partner, Shakira.

Barcelona also would have already received several offers from potential new main sponsors like insurance companies. They rejected a proposal from a company of online courses based in India and another of cryptocurrencies from the Middle East.

Barça aspire to receive at least the 55 million Euro per year it agreed with Rakuten in 2016. This season, Rakuten only pay 30 million Euro due to the effects of the pandemic.

Time is running out to be able to produce next season's shirts with the new sponsor, although Nike has given Barça a few more weeks' time. If in the end the Barcelona 22-23 kits have to be manufactured without the sponsor, the club will have to pay for the printing costs.

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