Adidas Dump Liverpool - Liverpool announce new £150m kit deal after Adidas row

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre claims the club has answered a snub by Adidas and proved its standing as one of the ’biggest football brands in the world’ by confirming a £25m-a-year kit deal with Warrior Sports.


Liverpool FC

The five-time European champions will receive £150m over six years from Boston-based Warrior following the agreement, which sees Liverpool stand second only to Barcelona - who have a £26.3m deal with Nike - in the lucrative kit sponsorship market.

Liverpool have ended a relationship with German sportswear giant Adidas stretching back to 1985 by linking up with Warrior.


Warrior Sports

And Ayre has hit back at claims by Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer that Liverpool’s absence from European competition has diminished the club’s appeal by pointing to the size of the Warrior deal as proof of the Anfield outfit’s global popularity.

Ayre said: “We are disappointed that Adidas seem to point to a lack of European football as reason not to agree a new deal and cannot see that we are on par with the biggest football brands in the world.”

Although Manchester United are expected to secure a world record £600m-plus kit deal before their current £23.5m agreement with Nike expires in 2015, Liverpool’s success in clinching such a lucrative deal with Warrior highlights the untapped commercial value of the Merseyside club, whose earnings from Adidas were just £12m-a-year.

Liverpool’s new deal outstrips Bayern Munich’s £22m-a-year package with Bayern Munich, while Arsenal, who have the third most lucrative deal in the Premier League, trail behind with a £13m deal with Nike.

Ayre added: “This is another landmark deal for Liverpool and once again shows the value of the club’s brand globally.

“Warrior Sports will bring its own unique brand and ideas to the partnership, ensuring that they can assist us at the Club both on and off the field of play.

“I believe that Warrior have some outstanding people we can work closely with to continue to deliver quality products to our fans around the world.”

Liverpool’s deal with Warrior will begin with the release of their home, away and third kit in June.


Liverpool next season kit??



Why Man Utd, Chelsea and Real Madrid are in River Plate contact for Lucas Ocampos

His first team career is barely five months old, but Lucas Ocampos already has the pick of the game's biggest clubs should he decide to leave River Plate.
 

Lucas Ocampos: Likened to Cristiano Ronaldo



Likened to Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, the 17 year-old, 6ft winger is the subject of intense interest from Chelsea this week, while media sources in Buenos Aries declared Manchester United and Real Madrid held talks with River before Christmas and assured them offers will arrive for Ocampos in 2012.

Currently sitting second in Argentina's Second Division, River president Daniel Passarella had insisted Ocampos would not be sold until they had returned to the top-flight. Interestingly, he was at the FIFA gala awards, where United manager Sir Alex Ferguson collected his career achievement gong.

Daniel Mancusi, a director at River, admits they're now ready to sell Ocampos: "There's been bids, but we've turned them down. If we get an offer to our liking, we'll consider it."

It's only been in the last six months that Ocampos' profile has exploded.

Identified as a junior with Quilmes, the winger was taken by River 18 months ago with little protest and didn't get near the senior squad until last year's preseason. It was the former Inter Milan and Parma star Matias Almeyda, now coach of River, who recognised Ocampos' talent and fast-tracked him into his first team for this season.



Started as a centre-forward before converted to left winger

A centre-forward with River's youth team, Almeyda has since converted Ocampos into a left-sided winger and seen him thrive in his new position.

"Ocampos is a star, he can be the future of River," declared Almeyda before handing the teen his debut against Chacarita Juniors. A week later Ocampos already had his first senior goal and soon the world's biggest clubs were on the phone to Passarella asking him to name his price.

Scouts liken Ocampos to Real Madrid star Angel di Maria, who came through at Newell's Old Boys before being signed by Benfica.



Ocampos: A fan of Cristiano Ronaldo



He has good technique and is a great dribbler. The raw pace he has is often too much for the fullbacks he's so far faced this season. It's very similar to Di Maria. He can pop up anywhere, but does his best work on the left of midfield."

In need of money and with Trezeguet now leading the line, Passarella is actively courting buyers for Ocampos, with £8 million a jumping off point for negotiations.

Chelsea made their move last week, but in United and Real Madrid's favour is that Ocampos is a self-confessed Ronaldo fan. Real would be confident if it came down to choice, as Ocampos' agent, Pablo Sabbag, has stronger links to Spanish football than the Premier League.

But money talks - especially if you're Passarella. Not only does he need to cover the loss from their shock relegation last season, but he's also promised River fans should Ocampos be sold a top-line replacement will arrive - with Internacional's former River favourite Andres D'Alessandro already nominated.

Chelsea, Manchester United or Real Madrid. For Ocampos, any move will be a whirlwind. But having become one of only four ever presents for River in this his debut season, you expect this 17 year-old to handle any big money transfer with similar ease.