Barcelona, Rakuten sponsorship deal takes effect

Barcelona July 1 (IANS) Rakuten and Barcelona launched a four-year sponsorship deal on Saturday under which the Japanese company will be the new main global sponsor of the Catalan football club.

The Japanese firm s logo is to appear on the front of the first team shirt starting from July 1 for the next four years with the option of a one-year extension reports Efe.

Under the deal approved by the members of the Extraordinary General Assembly in December Barcelona is to receive 55 million euros ($62.8 million) per year.

Rakuten one of the world s leading online shopping services providers replaces Qatar Airways with which Barcelona wants to seal a new commercial deal to be the official airline of the Catalan club.

--IANS
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