Surprise Revelation: New Balance Once Tried to Sign Cristiano Ronaldo
55 minutes ago, by Phan Tich Giay
- New Balance's Attempt: Around 2015-2016, New Balance engaged in direct negotiations with Cristiano Ronaldo, attempting to sign him away from Nike as his contract neared its end.
- Unprecedented Offer: To entice Ronaldo, New Balance offered him a direct percentage of the profits generated by its entire football division, moving beyond traditional sponsorship wages.
- Nike's Counteraction: The secret negotiations served as leverage for Ronaldo, prompting Nike to secure his future with a historic lifetime endorsement contract reportedly valued at $1 billion in November 2016.
Cristiano Ronaldo is synonymous with Nike and the iconic Mercurial series, having represented the Swoosh for over two decades. However, a stunning revelation has surfaced showing that the Portuguese superstar came remarkably close to an unprecedented brand switch a decade ago, with New Balance mounting an audacious pursuit to pry him away from the American giant.
The revelation was shared by former New Balance marketing director Ben Haworth during coverage surrounding Kylian Mbappé's monumental exit from Nike to join Swiss brand On.
New Balance Once Tried to Sign Cristiano Ronaldo
According to Haworth, New Balance held direct negotiations with Ronaldo around 2015 and 2016, when the multi-time Ballon d'Or winner was approaching the end of his Nike contract and quietly exploring his options on the market.
A Share of New Balance's Entire Football Business
To entice the world's most commercially powerful footballer, New Balance prepared an unprecedented package that went far beyond traditional sponsorship wages. Haworth disclosed that the brand planned to offer Ronaldo a direct percentage of the profits generated by New Balance's entire football division.
An offer of that scale would have made Ronaldo an integral financial stakeholder in the brand's football venture, giving him immense commercial upside.
At the time, the talks remained entirely behind closed doors, with virtually no public speculation suggesting Ronaldo was on the verge of leaving Nike. However, once Nike executives caught wind of the serious threat and realized they risked losing their crown jewel, the company acted decisively.
In November 2016, Nike secured Ronaldo's future by announcing a historic lifetime endorsement contract, a landmark pact reportedly valued at around $1 billion.
How the Talks Paved the Way for Nike's Lifetime Deal
The secret negotiations clearly served as ultimate leverage for Ronaldo's camp, pushing Nike to lock him down for good. The story also draws striking parallels to today's evolving boot market, where superstars increasingly demand equity and revenue shares over standard endorsement checks.
While New Balance went on to build a respected, selective football roster featuring stars like Bukayo Saka and Endrick, the football boot landscape would look unimaginably different today had Ronaldo accepted their profit-sharing proposition.
What do you think about Cristiano Ronaldo almost joining New Balance? How different would the football boot market look today if he had accepted the profit-sharing offer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
FC Barcelona 27-28 Home Kit Leaked - 2 Real Images
Footy Headlines can leak two real images of the new Barcelona 27-28 home kit. However, these still appear to be products created based on a previous concept. They have an accuracy of about 80% and will differ slightly from the final version.
Deportivo Cali 1965 First Title Commemorative Kits Released
Colombian club Deportivo Cali and their technical sponsor Hillside have launched a special-edition capsule celebrating the club's historic first league championship won in 1965. The release consists of two retro-inspired jerseys — one in green and another in white — that pay tribute to the monumental title won over six decades ago.
Both shirts embrace a classic mid-60s aesthetic, anchored by an open polo-style collar. The green shirt features a contrasting white collar and cuffs, complemented by a tonal sublimated pattern of stripes, pennants, and historic club insignia across the fabric. In turn, the white version offers a clean, elegant look highlighted by rich emerald green trim. On the collar ribbing, knit detailing spells out "19 CAMPEÓN 65" in tribute to the landmark campaign.
Each jersey is adorned with a vintage Deportivo Cali crest topped by a single embroidered golden star representing that maiden triumph. Additional commemorative touches include a retro script Hillside graphic at the lower back and a stitched authentic crest patch near the hem displaying "Cali - Un Amor para toda la Vida 1912". The limited-edition pieces are delivered in custom collector's packaging alongside a certificate of authenticity.
BG Pathum United 26-27 20th Anniversary Kit Released
Thai League side BG Pathum United have officially released a special 20th anniversary kit for the 26-27 season. Produced by Nike and launched under the club's "Side by Side" campaign, the commemorative shirt celebrates two decades since the team was originally founded in 2006 as Bangkok Glass FC, reviving the historic green color from the club's early years.
The Nike BGPU 26-27 20th anniversary shirt combines a vibrant green base with contrasting black accents on the crew neck collar and sleeve cuffs, flanked by white side panels. It features clean monochrome white applications throughout, including the club crest, the Nike Swoosh, and the front sponsor. Two variations of the jersey are available: the domestic Thai League version featuring Leo branding on the chest, and an AFC Champions League Two version with Singha Corporation and a Thai flag detail on the sleeve.
White shorts and white socks complete the throwback look. The BG Pathum United 26-27 20th anniversary kit is now on sale through the club's official online shop and at the BGPU Mega Store, priced at 999 THB for the standalone jersey. The club has also made a limited "Side by Side" collector's boxset available for 2,000 THB, containing two shirts, two commemorative scarves, and a sticker sheet.
