Manchester City lose major sponsor after 11-year agreement in ‘cost-cutting measure’
One of the main sponsors of Manchester City and the wider football group withdrew from the partnership after 11 years.
The decision represents the end of one of the oldest trade relations of CFG, which had initially been considered by many as an important breakthrough for the group’s global ambitions.
Nissan has teamed up with City Football Group in 2014, using Manchester City and their sister clubs around the world as a high-level platform to strengthen the visibility of the car manufacturer and aligned themselves on the international football expansion market.
At the time of the announcement, the partnership was unveiled by the CEO of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, during a press conference, where the agreement was positioned as a flagship decision for the CFG growing commercial portfolio and Nissan’s efforts to stimulate global recognition of brands.
Over the years, sponsorship has extended to several clubs such as Manchester City in England and the New York City FC in the United States, strengthening the presence of the Japanese automaker in different territories.
The longtime presence of Nissan on advertising advice, the brand image of the day and other promotional campaigns have also stressed the importance of the partnership for CFG, while the withdrawal leaves a notable gap in the group’s sponsorship landscape.
It is according to a new report by Nikkei, which reveals that Nissan Motor decided to end its sponsorship agreement with City Football Group in a decision which was described as a “cost reduction measure” as a result of the manufacturer’s automaker.
It is explained that the Nissan logo will now be gradually progressive in games involving CFG clubs, notably Manchester City, while the financial details of the contractual agreement have never been disclosed.
This decision inevitably raises questions about the next CFG steps to fill the void left by Nissan. Manchester City with lucrative links with global companies, there will be no shortage of potential partners wishing to replace the presence of the automaker.
The visibility of the club in the UEFA Champions League, the Premier League and national competitions – in addition to their recent appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup – guarantees that any available sponsorship location represents a main commercial value.
For the Pep Guardiola team, the departure of a major sponsor after more than a decade will be considered the end of an era, but also an opportunity to refresh and extend commercial income in accordance with the continuous increase in the club on and off the field.
