DOHA: Qatar Airways wants to extend its one-year shirt sponsorship of La Liga football champions Barcelona to four years, group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said on Wednesday.
The airline and the Spanish club announced on July 19 a one-year extension to a three-year sponsorship deal. The one-year extension was reportedly worth €35 million, while the three-year deal was worth €96 million. It is the biggest deal in the Spanish football giant’s history.
“We didn’t have enough time to negotiate a proper agreement with them. This is why we extended it for one year and we are in negations with them to extend it to a full 4-year term,” Al Baker said.
Gulf carriers have tied up with a number of major sports teams around the world. Emirates sponsors La Liga rival Real Madrid and English Premier League team Arsenal, and Etihad Airways sponsors the Premier League’s Manchester City.
