Want Backheel Breakfast in your inbox? Sign up for the email version here.
Nike spends billions to lock up Barcelona and Chelsea for the next decade
Soccer shirt sponsorships are big business.
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Nike have lost Manchester United and Arsenal among their stable of shirt deals over the last decade, but they’re making big moves to make sure they stay on top of the world when it comes to soccer branding and merch. They’ve re-upped with Barcelona, in a deal reportedly worth €1 billion, or $1.13 billion, over 10 years. They’ve also gotten back into London by signing up Chelsea for £60 million, or $88 million per season. Chelsea had to pay adidas to break their old shirt deal, but will make their money back very quickly -- the new Nike deal is worth double their old adidas one.
In addition to these two clubs, Nike has Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid among their stable of top clubs. Adidas has Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Bayern Munich.
Goal of the day
Wayne Rooney finished off an absolutely gorgeous team move for Manchester United. (r/soccer)
In the news
Oh look more shady business from Gianni Infantino. Check out his new head of strategy. (Guardian)
John Terry has signed on with Chelsea for one more year. (Chelsea FC)
UEFA will elect a new president on Sept. 14. (BBC)
Atlético Madrid have extended Saúl’s contract and reportedly bumped his release clause. (AS)
Paulo Dybala says he has zero intention of leaving Juventus this summer. (Football Italia)
Romelu Lukaku’s dad thinks his son will have a transfer sorted before the Euros start. (Telegraph)
Mexico’s coach says Giovani dos Santos asked to be left off the Copa América squad. (SI)
You should be reading
James Bridget Gordon has praise for the Europa League, which has its final on Wednesday. (Unusual Efforts)
Mark Sochon on the love affair that Sevilla, one of the finalists, has with the competition. (In Bed With Maradona)
Mohamed Mohamed on Lyon’s strange, but totally decent season. (Stats Bomb)
What happened on Tuesday
Derby beat Hull, but not by enough, and the Tigers are going to Wembley. (BBC)
Manchester United won and Louis van Gaal’s end of the year speech got booed. (Guardian)
What to watch on Wednesday (click for listings, all times ET)
Europa League: Liverpool vs. Sevilla (2:45 p.m.) -- Jürgen Klopp can start his Liverpool career off right with a trophy.
MLS: 2 games (from 7 p.m.) -- TFC vs. NYCFC is probably the better match.
Liga MX: America vs. Monterrey (9:30 p.m.) -- This Liguilla semifinal should be very good.
See More:
