ManU is "set to announce a world-record kit deal" worth more than £600M ($1B), according to Simon Mullock of the London DAILY MIRROR. The deal will see ManU make more than £60M ($100M)-a-year "over the course of a decade-long agreement." That is "almost double the current best kit manufacturing deal," which sees Real Madrid earn £31M ($52M) from its arrangement with adidas. ManU currently has a deal with Nike worth £23.5M ($39.3M) a season -- "less than Real, Arsenal, Barcelona and Liverpool." But that 13-year agreement "expires next year." There was "no shortage of interest" alongside Nike. Puma, Warrior and adidas "all emerged to challenge Nike" (DAILY MIRROR, 3/8). In London, John Drayton noted the deal will add to the £35M ($58.5M) annual sponsorship deal with Chevrolet, "which is set to kick in next season." The two sponsorship deals will help ManU "overcome the financial problems of missing out on the Champions League next season and help them try and get back in there" (DAILY MAIL, 3/9). FOX SPORTS reported it is clear that ManU "remain the game’s biggest financial force, regardless of the short-term worries on the field," and will provide under-fire Manager David Moyes "with a significant war chest with which to rebuild his squad during the off-season" (FOX SPORTS, 3/9). Also in London, Charles Perrin reported social media "was awash with speculation after a 'leaked' image of the red, Nike kit embossed with the club's sponsor Chevrolet popped up on Twitter." However, "it remains to be seen whether or not this is the genuine article as it has a club tag attached to it" (EXPRESS, 3/8).
NIKE STRIKES AGAIN: GOAL reported Nike "has renewed its deal" with the Portuguese Football Federation to supply the county's national team kit until at least after the 2018 World Cup (GOAL, 3/6).
