Qatar Airways to sponsor Barcelona for another year

Barcelona have announced an extension to their sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways, as the club's official sponsor, putting an end to the doubt over the club's situation after president Bartomeu had said on 30 June that the club would remove every trace of Qatar Airways from the Camp Nou. 

New deal with Qatar Airways to run to 30 June 2017

Previous contract extension negotiations between club and airline had stalled with Barça's elections taking place 2015, but were re-started, leading to the one year extension that will run to 30 June 2017.

In their communication Barcelona admit the conditions for the deal are the same as the current ones, meaning the club didn't receive the improved terms they had expected. Barcelona will pick up between 35 and 40 million euros for the year's sponsorship. 40 million euros would be significantly short of the 65 million euros previously promised to the members by president Bartomeu.

With Qatar Airways agreeing the new deal, the US on-line retailer Amazon will have to wait if it wants to become the club's sponsor. The internet giant was said to be in talks with Barcelona about taking over as sponsor.  

Barcelona: "Qatar Airways has helped us to make Barça bigger"

Barcelona's head of marketing, Manel Arroyo, said: “Qatar Airways has helped us to make Barça bigger in recent years. The success that has accompanied the Club has partly been their work. It is a pleasure to be able to work together for another season and we hope to continue along the same lines of mutual growth”.

Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: "Three years ago was the first time we entered into such a landmark sports partnership. We are proud and greatly honoured to continue that relationship. We hope to have a great season together”.

Club also waiting for Qatar to bid on the Camp Nou

Barcelona meanwhile are waiting to see if Qatar will get involved in the bidding for the naming rights to the Camp Nou.