Disconnected: Vodafone Opts Not To Renew Beckham
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Vodafone Spurns Beckham
To Focus On ManU Deal |
Real Madrid MF David Beckham and Vodafone have ended their US$1.74M per year endorsement
deal by “mutual consent,” according to sources on both sides cited by Steve Hawkes
of the DAILY MIRROR. Beckham’s former personal assistant Rebecca Loos last year
used text messages “as ‘proof’ of their alleged fling in Madrid,” but Vodafone
denied that the split had “anything to do with claims of affairs.” Vodafone “has
yet to decide” who will replace Beckham (DAILY MIRROR, 7/26). Germany-based
Siemens, a Vodafone competitor, is a Real Madrid sponsor, and in London, O’Connor
& Lewis report Vodafone execs “are thought to have been concerned about the use
of Beckham’s image by Real to promote Siemens.” Vodafone decided it “would be
better to focus on its” US$15.7M-a-year sponsorship deal with Manchester United,
Beckham’s former team. The company also has endorsement deals with ManU players
Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo. Vodafone “was not interested” in supporting
Beckham’s soccer academies, so Beckham “turned to other global names.” O’Connor
& Lewis add that Beckham’s “descent from ubiquity to relative obscurity” in Japan
“has been staggering.” The Japanese media believe Beckham’s alleged affair with
Loos “has fatally dented the squeaky-clean image that once made him such a favourite
with sponsors.” Tokyo-based jersey retailer Masahiro Hieda said, “We haven’t been
selling any Beckham shirts recently” (LONDON TIMES, 7/27).
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