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Marketing and Sponsorship

Barcelona's New $235M Deal With Rakuten Includes Clause To Play Friendly In Japan

Barcelona's new four-year, €220M ($235.2M) sponsorship deal with Asian e-commerce company Rakuten includes an "obligation to play at least one friendly in Japan in the coming years," according to Samuel Marsden of ESPN.com. Club VP Manel Arroyo said that there "would definitely be one game and possibly two if the calendar permitted it." That means "more long haul flights for Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and their Barcelona teammates." Coach Luis Enrique was "keen to minimise the Blaugrana's travelling this summer, replacing a long-haul tour with a training camp in England and friendlies around Europe." However, Barcelona's commercial agreements mean the club is "tied to a certain number of games in locations around the world." In addition, President Josep María Bartomeu has "suggested the club will play a friendly in India in the next two to three years," although Barcelona is not contractually obliged to do so. The "showing off" of Barcalona around the world "is part of his long-term plan to boost the club's revenue" beyond the €1B ($1.1B) mark (ESPN.com, 11/16). In a separate piece, Marsden reported Barcelona denied that its new deal contains a "Lionel Messi clause" and "hinges on him staying at the club." Arroyo said that was not the case and "reiterated the club's expectation that the Argentina forward will end his career at the Camp Nou." He said, "What is certain is that no 'Messi clause' exists. Leo wants to end his sporting career with Barça, as he's repeated on many occasions. We can't even think about letting him leave -- and we are working for that to be the case." Earlier this week, Marca reported that Messi had "turned down the chance to renew his contract in the summer" (ESPN.com, 11/17).

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