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Nike ends relations with Manchester United
The 2014-15 kit will be the last Manchester United one made by Nike after they ended a 13-year deal
Nike is ending a 13-year deal to manufacture Manchester United’s football kit.
In a statement, the American sportswear company said “the terms that were on offer for a renewed contract did not represent good value for Nike’s shareholders”.
It is thought that either Germany’s Adidas or Warrior will replace them.
Manchester United did not qualify for this season’s Champions League for the first time in 19 years.
The club suffered its worst ever Premier League finish last season after manager Sir Alex Ferguson left following 26 years in the job.
His successor, David Moyes, lasted just 10 months and Dutch manager Louis van Gaal takes over following the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign.
Nike first signed the deal with the club in 2002 and on Monday unveiled a new kit for the 2014-15 season. It will be the last one bearing the Nike logo.
Nike said: “Manchester United is a great club with passionate fans.
Manchester United in numbers |
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| The Glazer family bought the club for £790m in 2005 | Club’s commercial operations grew by 30% to £34.9m in 2012/13 – Deloitte |
| The club still owes around £400m in loans used to finance takeover | £10m a year interest payments due on the club’s debt |
| Turnover for the 2013-14 financial year is expected to top £418m | Juan Mata is the club record signing – bought for £37.1m |
| Net profit of £146m for 2012/13 | Wayne Rooney’s new four-year deal worth a reported £300,000 a week |
| Chevrolet will pay £53m a year to have their name on United’s shirts | Total wage bill estimate for the financial year 2012/13 was £182m– Deloitte |
| Aon paid £120m to sponsor the club’s training ground and kit | No Champions League football will cost £50m– 10% of annual revenue – Deloitte |
“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.”
United’s existing deal with United States firm Nike is worth £24m a year. As part of that agreement they were given a period of exclusivity to negotiate an extension and also retained the right to match any other offer.
But the company has decided against exercising either option.
A figure of £600m over 10 years has been discussed with the remaining bidders, which would dwarf the reported £31m a season Adidas pays to Real Madrid.
They have signed a number of sponsorship deals, including an agreement to rename their Carrington training ground.
