Football World, March 1 According to Spain's ** "Daily Sport", Barcelona FC plans to end its 26-year cooperation with the current jersey sponsor Nike and start to independently produce its own jerseys. Nike has been the official shirt sponsor of Barcelona since 1998 and the contract is expected to run until 2028. However, recent reports suggest that Barcelona are preparing a historic initiative to produce and sell their own jerseys and give all revenue to the club.
The tension between Barcelona and Nike has heated up in recent months, and the club has begun to look for an alternative to Nike. German sports brand PUMA has shown interest in signing Barcelona and is willing to offer up to 100 million euros a year in sponsorship, which is higher than Nike's current annual sponsorship amount of 85 million euros. However, another possibility is that Barcelona will create their own jersey brand.
Previously, Barcelona president Joan Laporta had expressed the idea of starting his own jersey brand in an interview with Catalan Radio. Daily Sport points out that Barcelona can achieve this through a partnership with existing clothing manufacturer BLM. BLM currently manufactures and sells non-sporting apparel and other products for Barça and is working with a major multinational company.
Barça's move would be a major strategic shift that would allow the club to become more independent and better able to control its own commercial interests. In-house production of jerseys can also generate more revenue for the club** and better meet the needs of fans, enhancing the commercial appeal of the club. This move is also in line with Barça's strategic direction of pursuing autonomy and independent development, and is expected to bring more commercial opportunities and success to the club.