Dubai: Etihad Airways have denied reports that they are on the verge of a five-year sponsorship deal with Italian Serie A side Inter Milan worth €125 million (Dh520 million).
Reports in Italy had suggested that Inter Milan were about to sign a €25 million a season deal with Etihad, which is €13 million more than what they currently earn a season with Italian tyre-firm Pirelli, whose 20-year sponsorship of the club expires next summer.
If true, it would be the biggest shirt sponsorship deal in Italian football, with Sassuolo currently getting €22 million a season from their sponsors-cum-owners Mapei, and Juventus and AC Milan picking up just €17 million a season from Jeep and Emirates respectively.
However, when asked to comment on the proposed deal, an Etihad Airways spokesperson said: “Etihad Airways denies the reports and speculation that the airline is to become a sponsor of Inter Milan football club in Italy. The airline is not in talks with the club and there is no truth to these rumours.”
Etihad, who own 49 per cent of Italy’s Alitalia airline, currently sponsor Manchester City, New York City FC and Melbourne City FC, which are all also owned by Abu Dhabi.
Recent reports suggested that the proposed Inter deal could also be more than just a sponsorship tie-up too, with honorary president Massimo Moratti said to be ready to sell most of his remaining 30 per cent shares to an investor from the UAE, who could be connected to the airline.
Inter’s city rivals AC Milan are already sponsored by Emirates airline following an initial four-year deal worth €60 million in 2010, which was extended by five years for €85 million in 2014.
If there were any truth in the Etihad sponsorship of Inter, it would have meant the historic Milan Derby between Inter and AC Milan would have also become an intriguing head-to-head between the two UAE airlines.
