Why Does Barcelona Want to Ditch Nike?

Barcelona plan to terminate their kit sponsorship agreement with Nike. This decision comes after months of speculation and discourse surrounding the tensions between the Spanish football club and American sports brand. In this video essay, we delve into the reported reasons for the rift between the club and the brand, Barcelona's potential courses of action for new kit production, and the feasibility of these options.
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TWITTER: / alexanderxg
Sources: pastebin.com/tJSc9afN
Note: All costs, prices, and numbers have been converted to GBP for consistency. If you need the original, non-translated figures (euro, dollar, etc.), please refer to the relevant source.
0:00 Introduction
1:18 Barcelona's Replica Problem
3:12 Barcelona and the "Market"
4:28 Barcelona's Options
5:57 Why Leaving Nike Will be Difficult
8:00 Barcelona's Decision
Business Email: [e-mail]
Tags: #nike #fcbarcelona #kit

[@watchalexander]

Do you think Barcelona should partner with Puma, go in-house, or another option after they’re done with Nike?

[@Plato3745]

It's obviously good

[@djkalenomuzic2615]

Adidas

[@ElRadioDJ913]

They should collab with adidas even though Spain has a pretty good relationship with them. I am fine with Puma though except that their footwear ain't that great.

[@Prem_ladsfanpage22]

in house

[@bobbybrandon5048]

I'd love to see them try to go in-house by partnering with a textile firm in Catalunya. It could be interesting, remember they have lots of sports.

[@saifshaikh9154]

For a couple of seasons now Barcelona kits are really bad looking.

[@watchalexander]

I’ve heard this criticism from a lot of Barcelona fans too!

[@zigamz243]

Agree. I cant stand this new barca kits

[@shawklan27]

I miss it when barca kits didn't have those god awful sponsor logos on the jerseys. Just the crest and the nike swoosh gave the old shirts a premium vibe

[@americanozoomer9738]

Especially third ones

[@trey5747]

hoenstly all football kits have looked bad, whether they be nike, adidas, newbalance, or umbero smh I wish the designs were as cool and vibrant as the 90s and early 2000s

[@vedantgupta01]

As always bartomeu action haunts us. It will be interesting to see how they will deal the termination contract with Nike and potentially joining one of two german giants.

[@watchalexander]

I’m interested to see how it unravels too! And yeah it seems like the club will still have to grapple with issues from the Bartomeu era for a while.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Adidas wants them

[@flightofthemumblebee]

Love this vid! This was baffling when I saw it but what’s more baffling is the Germany and Adidas deal ending

[@watchalexander]

Thank you! And yeah there have been so many shock decisions in the world of football sponsors lately lol

[@skepticscalps]

Barca just wants more money from Nike and to receive royalty payments from "non-replicas". No team has the facilities needed to produce and distribute their kits in house and will need to hire companies which is similar to the current kit deal with Nike. Barca trying to create pressure on Nike for a better deal or get a Puma deal where Puma pays their buyout from the Nike contract.

[@jasimsayed2880]

The biggest point you failed to mention is " BLM- Barca Licensing & Merchandising". The in-house store ( Barca Store) is a big worry for Barcelona. Barca Store had an income of €101.9m in the 2022-23 season. Currently Nike prevents Barça from opening official stores outside Spain and selling shirts and other merchandise online outside Europe but the club is working on it through Barça Licensing and Merchandising (BLM). For shirts from the barca store you can buy any jersey with any first team player & a custom name number , through Nike's website you can't have custom names and the first team player selection is pretty numbered. A buyer from outside of Europe couldn't buy a Cubarsi/Fermin shirt rn while they are in top form. Meaning we lose out on money we could make. The forecast is to reach €120m income this season and around €200m by 2026 with BLM but if we could sell outside of Europe and open ' FC Barcelona stores' outside Spain we could generate much more. Like PSG has 17 stores of which only 3 are in France and rest are around the world While Barcelona has 12 or 13 stores all in Spain and close to Barcelona. Nike is seriously hurting our reach as a brand globally and given our transfer targets and potential superstars in our team we couldn't reach their country. Like our Mexican RB on loan who will join the team next year Julian Araujo, our potential Senegalese center backs in Mikayil Faye & Mamadou Fall, one of our targeted DM in Dion lopy( Senegal) and many more.

[@watchalexander]

Thank you for this comment! There was a lot I found out about the deal, but it seems like so much is shrouded in secrecy and conjecture (probably on purpose) so I tried to focus primarily on comments made by Laporta directly and the legal aspects that have been made public (the replica issue for example was brought to light years ago due to it going to court).

[@rutharambula6320]

right ! and for example pretty much all jerseys in Mexico sold out the first 3 months of the season, and if you look for them at any other store selling original jerseys, all of them tell you that you have to wait for the new season to start so that you can buy the original jersey also, you can’t buy a jersey with any footballer’s name and the barca store online only delivers to some countries in europe, so it’s pretty much impossible to acquire

[@jesuspinto9805]

This appears to be something normal from Nike. San Lorenzo, an argetinian club which has Nike as their kit sponsor, has problems with their Nike's merchandise distribution, apparently last season was impossible to buy a kit from their official store

[@dooplysuper]

I have gone to every Nike store in Las Vegas and rarely find any Barcelona merchandise. It is very annoying to see this happen

[@flochforster2974]

Yes!!

[@robtyman4281]

That's got little to do with Nike, or with Barcelona FC. It's more of a cultural thing. FC Barcelona tops are not going to be big sellers in a city like Las Vegas. Indeed Nike stores in alot of US cities have a very poor selection of shirts from European football clubs, because outside the major cities, football is still not as huge as media make it out to be. Football still has some way to go, if it's to enter the consciousness of many Americans.

[@applebee6455]

@@robtyman4281it is huge, just not in the USA 🇺🇸 or India. But Indians don’t have the money.

[@grayknight836]

In house is a good idea 💡! So you could design whatever you want, manufacture how many you want. Quality control!

[@itsmeprasad1987]

I had no idea about this at all!! Thanks for the video

[@watchalexander]

Thank you for watching, and leaving such a nice comment! 🙏🏽

[@itsmeprasad1987]

Do one about why ESPN might go down!! It might be right down your alley

[@carlosaraujo59]

Your content definitely high quality, I’m not a soccer fan, but would love to see other business topics on here.

[@airo4217]

Yet another amazing video! Keep up the good work; can’t wait for the next one!

[@watchalexander]

Thank you! 😁🙏🏽

[@timnoskill]

the production value of this video is outstanding, surprised that your sub count is so low with how great this video is

[@watchalexander]

Thank you! 🙏🏽

[@AbacusFrost]

Hey man, loves your videos!!! I do think tho, that you shouldn't just make football videos (also a Spurs fans). Your first video was spectacular. I love the football/sports vids but its nice to have other types of videos once in a while. LOVE THE CHANNEL.... COYS

[@Taco_Pin3]

What a well made video and helped me understand great job🎉❤💙

[@watchalexander]

Thank you! 🙏🏽

[@lazywallstreetnews7234]

Y’all really did business with Nike and thought it would work your way? 😂 as an American who knows how Nike operates, you’re not getting out of that contract until 2028. So just deal with it and find a New Jersey provider when the Nike contract is up. They’re not going to just let a top 10 soccer team in the world walk away from a contract cuz the new manager is upset 😂. I even laughed at the reason. Nike doesn’t care and neither will the courts. If you signed on the dotted line, the contract is valid. Simple as that.

[@kagojonathan3415]

I would prefer if Barca to go to Puma

[@watchalexander]

I think a lot of Barca fans think the same!

[@user-sf7rh1xn5z]

spirted away adds a nice touch here. thanks😄

[@watchalexander]

Thank you! 😁🙏🏽

[@robs9237]

U post and I immediately watch...it's that simple

[@watchalexander]

Thank you, I appreciate it! 😁🙏🏽

[@robs9237]

@@watchalexander lemme guess, ur studying for a business or marketing degree?

[@watchalexander]

@@robs9237 Communications aha!

[@robs9237]

@@watchalexander 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

[@sidavies6625]

Stopped buying any merch since sweatshop Niké arrived at Liverpool along with that LeBron/Nike joint enterprise crap merch that failed miserably. Plus tickets at £300. F that. Barca spent €147 million they didnt have on a failure. There enlies their corrupt egotistical problems. Not selling Messi was laughable. A free lol

[@James-yg3ov]

Damnn I didn't know any of this before, ur vids are so good

[@watchalexander]

🙏🏽🤍

[@rikkidgermano9640]

And the DfB ended a 70year of partnership with Adidas to swtich up to Nike because they offered double the money. Let's see how that one plays out 😂

[@BrianTheUnique]

Your content is premium

[@watchalexander]

Thank you! 🙏🏽

[@papipj4363]

I still can’t believe Germany went with Nike. I could see puma but not Nike….

[@amo5499]

don’t forget that Nike gave Barca the Kaizer Chiefs 50th anniversary jersey/kit which called Kaizer Chiefs to leave (the biggest African team they sponsored) Nike too back to Kappa now Barca might be going back to Kappa.

[@ft9kop]

I always wondered why i see so much Barcelona merchadise at Burlington and Ross. They must be overstock from prendas deportivas rogers

[@sammyarthur826]

Alexander the great Never Misses🔥

[@watchalexander]

Thank you! 🙏🏽

[@nikeheritage86]

Great video as always 🙏 Personally, I think Puma is the way for Barca for now. Puma has made great kits for their current clubs and certainly have better quality kits than Nike. Having Barca alongside Man City would help Puma immensely in the football department, just like Adidas having Real Madrid, Bayern and Man Utd

[@watchalexander]

Thank you! 🙏🏽 And yeah I think the future for Barcelona will most likely be Puma - the brand having both Barca and City will be crazy good for them.

[@demandcollect]

in-house would be wavy... give it to meyba for nostalgia

[@applebee6455]

Barcelona FC for the first time since 1998 has no star players/names. They’re not a sexy team right now.

[@djkalenomuzic2615]

if Manu getting 90mil a year Barcelona should get 170mil a year.

[@Chris24_]

They’re nowhere as big of a brand

[@timotheusn.h.nakashona1001]

​@@Chris24_ spot on!

[@AvrilAlvarez]

I say bring back the old Kappa uniforms like from the 90s

[@ChryskylodonInstitute]

is it really important what big brand company shirt/kit any of the big clubs wear? i don't think so

[@StillAwesome21]

Well yes, because there is money involved. Football is a business, these things matter.

[@XabzintheNBAGuru]

money fool

[@Thphnts]

@@StillAwesome21 But you can argue that it doesn't matter, because the clubs will make money regardless if people buy the shirt or not.

[@ChryskylodonInstitute]

@@XabzintheNBAGuru thanks captain obvious, but I'm not mentioning money or contracts, that is explained in video. question is about why some are upset about teams wearing specific company kits like the Germans switching from adidas to nike or barca being longterm nike club

[@LitoLochoss]

​​@@ThphntsThat not how business work youre basicaly saying is ok to lose bit of profit

[@backupdancer3720]

Mes qué un deuda... Messi and co really had fans believing they played for the shirt and love... Now they've all made off like bandits - Piquet made so much that he looked at Shakira and realised he could afford an upgrade...

[@dylan4865]

Barca should definitley make their own kits. Could improve their economy and retain more profits. Furthermore, use a moneyball approach to buy young, unrecognised talent. Spearheaded by Bvb and Ars

[@rome4210]

I like Nike but I also like Puma a lot recently. I don’t like the idea of own brand.

[@quitestiger2818]

Liverpool only receive 35m from Nike but 20% royalties.. They make almost 112m in '23.. if barca terminate with Nike you can guess liverpool will sign a record breaking deal with Nike during their pre season tour in US

[@DanielBengtsson]

Youre good! :-)

[@watchalexander]

Thank you Daniel! 🙏🏽

[@nikosuarilla5562]

Distribution slide with Tony Montana haha

[@Thelomes1]

Im with nike

[@goat9295]

I hope Nike gets kicked out. I'm mixed on their kits, some are good, some are bad. However my biggest gripe with Nike is the fact that they don't allow Barca to ship outside of Europe. As a lifelong Barca supporter from Canada(yeah I know), I can't buy kits with UCL patches, La Liga patches, players names, or anything. Even when kits come out, I can't even pitches them for a couple weeks until the season has already gotten under way. For such a global club we're being limited to hell by Nike. I'd love for Kappa or Puma to take over next. Adidas would be cool too, but their kits are too template heavy and I don't think they could get the 3 stripes to work without Barca's colours.

[@M.Sajid98]

contract should have been terminated when Nike proposed that chess jersey in 2019. Swear the hideousness of it still haunts me

[@JohnRome-xn7hx]

Greediness has ruined football. FC Barcelona was special with its unique no-brand/no-sponsor policy, and yet has become one of the worst...

[@saulziyech9710]

Hey man just a suggestion... I was thinking you should film yourself talking rather than add movie scenes, i feel like we'll feel more connected to you as a creator than just the videos you make. Just a suggestion

[@watchalexander]

Hi Saul, thank you for the suggestion! One of the main reasons I chose this style is because 1. I enjoy editing and films and 2. I like to keep a sense of privacy, even on my perineal accounts. 😊 I hope I can still build a community and connect with my subscribers on this channel despite my video essays being more curated.

[@saulziyech9710]

@@watchalexander I respect that bro. I mean it is different from other footy KZbinrs that am used to watching, but am sure it'll grow on me and the others watching.

[@orionpacks]

u puttin out fire content this ramadan, big up ma guy

[@watchalexander]

Thank you brother 🙏🏽

[@107mohre]

They’re struggling financially, so they’re looking for a huge endorsement deal. barcaK

[@rave9999]

this is one of my favorite football channels also how do you only have 30k subs

[@watchalexander]

Thank you! 🙏🏽

[@netayconnection6236]

Yeah maaaad you need more for the quality of the videos 😊​@@watchalexander

[@jayyzee5708]

La masia finna turn into swearshop

[@dylan4865]

Are you inspired by Tifo football ⚽️? You're a great channel

[@earlnosweat]

I’ll admit the Barca jerseys don’t look as cool as they used to, but I feel like the biggest factor in the jerseys looking how they do is the Spotify logo. It just seems off, Rakuten wasn’t the best either but something about the Spotify logo just makes the jersey look way worse than it is.

[@eugdee7293]

Nike have made a chequered home kit, a hooped home kit and a white away kit. Each of these were a slap in the face to Barca fans. I hope they get rid of Nike. However they should never go to puma, as puma support genocide and this is against the values of the club.

[@MrAwesumo]

Barcelona and Nike is such an iconic mix, feels wrong to see them part ways

[@goat9295]

As a Barcelona supporter I don't really care that much. As long as it's not adidas. I love adidas, but their kits are too template-y. Also the stripes would be weird on the kit. I'd love kappa to make a return, but it's more likely that puma will take it

[@mekorlang]

Good. Nike's recent designs for Barca were awful

[@carlosmarin4377]

adidas match just perfect..

[@SamStrange-fy1wm]

So they’re bitching about 1m on a 150m deal?

[@toneman00]

Cadena S E R 😂

[@watchalexander]

Didn’t know whether it was pronounced “SER” or “S.E.R” so we took the gamble. 😭🙏🏽

[@toneman00]

@@watchalexander haha it had me tilting, especially since the other Spanish words are well pronounced

[@gerryfrancis3350]

cos they messed with the England flag!

[@ramirinot6560]

WTF!

[@Nooroodin84]

90 million pounds a year and Barca still want more. Greedy ass club. They dug themself into a big hole with the crazy salaries and it’s the nike deal that’s the issue. Joan Laporta is insane.

[@sherqyanstromain9580]

Their trying to push other people into paying their debts

[@robtyman4281]

.. because they design horrible looking kits that no one likes. They don't respect the clubs they design kits for, instead 'putting in' colours that are NOT part of the home shirt or the history of the club. Nike don't care about any club - they just care about making their own contribution to a club's kit, in the form of 'add ons' that weren't asked for. The colours 'red' and 'orange' do NOT belong on a Chelsea home kit. No one asked for them to be added, but Nike decided it would 'look good' with one of the two added. It doesn't. It just annoys the fans and is a good way of building up animosity towards Nike. But then, what do you expect from an American sportswear company. Football has never been part of everyday culture in their home country. I wish my club, Chelsea, would ditch Nike aswell. But we can't as we have an American owner! So long as Boehly is the Chelsea FC owner, the club are saddled with Nike, unfortunately.

[@user-sf7rh1xn5z]

go in house. if they make something big, pure profit.

[@malhaar2271]

No more garbage kits

[@donottouch2392]

Nah we only get 35 million a year

[@GeorgeSamia]

La liga need a German humbling 😂 Puma and Adidas 😂

[@Hug02002]

The response is simple: they don't have money to pay nike😂

[@lembeed6155]

did you really watch the video or do you understand the kits business? nike pays barca youre just too stupid to learn

[@tdigital2597]

When Nike left Arsenal - they went downhill. I see the same happening with Barca - we won’t be great for a long time

[@imnotlazy]

What kind of logic is this?😂

[@henrylam92]

how does a kit and sponsor got anything to do with how well the team plays lol in the end it is all about the money. Barca is currently not profitable and the Nike deal is now seen as unfair as Nike collects money from replicas jerseys and Barca does not

[@sherqyanstromain9580]

I mean United still haven't won major honors since leaving

[@raungelyubos1977]

Lol, arsenal is thriving with adidas

[@MrJoeSomebody]

Stupidest comment I’ve ever read

[@Socializedbyantisocials]

Laporta está que espulga un mono por dinero😂

[@NELSONG12]

$$$$$

[@ivaneurope]

I think the Negreira scandal is glossed over in the strained relationship between Barcelona and Nike. It was reported that Nike were willing to sever ties with the club over the accusations of Barca bribing high ranked referee officials, which had happened under Bartomeu's rule.

[@watchalexander]

This is interesting! 🤔

[@goat9295]

The scandals were based on nothing. Courts dismissed it because there was no proof of anything. Just Spanish media trying to add onto Barcelona's problems. Also Nike wouldn't care either way because it doesn't hurt their money. Not to mention they've had PSG, Man City, Leipzig, and Chelsea under their belt despite the controversies about them.

[@TheDunningKrugerEffectisReal]

Nike leaves Barca, Nike enters Germany, it is what it is.

[@laujack24]

they just broke as fuck lol

[@trinibaduk9012]

So there complaining about €1.7m 🤣🤣🤣

[@JohnGuidetti751]

Slow in the head you are.

[@Tom_murray89]

Nike don’t seem to be the desirable brand they used to be