Nike, Manchester United Partnership to End in 2015
By Opeyemi Oladunjoye
Sportswear brand, Nike has announced plans to end its 13-year association with Manchester United at the end of the 2014/15 season.
The Old Trafford outfit has been reviewing setting up a fresh deal with Nike after the current one ends after the upcoming season. But The American company has now pulled out of negotiations due to the demands of Manchester United, who are understood to be looking for a figure in the region of £60m-a-season over 10 years.
A Nike statement reads: “Manchester United is a great club with passionate fans. We are proud to have partnered with them for the last 12 years and will continue to sponsor the club until the end of the 2014/15 season.
“Any partnership with a club or federation has to be mutually beneficial and the terms that were on offer for a renewed contract did not represent good value for Nike’s shareholders. We look forward to a successful final season with the club.”
The statement now leaves Germany based Adidas and American brand, Warrior as the likely candidates to replace them.
Adidas made United’s kits throughout the 1980s and is the kit provider to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Warrior currently sponsor Liverpool.
