Manchester United stand to lose out on significant sponsorship revenue from Adidas should they fail to qualify for the Uefa Champions League this season, claims the Manchester Evening News (MEN), reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.
According to the Manchester daily, there is a clause in Adidas' contract with United that states that if the club fail to secure a place in European club soccer's elite tournament for two consecutive seasons the sportswear brand reduces its payment by 30 per cent.
United's deal with Adidas was signed back in 2015 and brings in UK75 million (US$91.9 million) per season. A 30 per cent reduction on that figure would be UK55.2 million (US$68.4 million). Whilst still a substantial amount, that would drop the club behind Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea in terms of annual revenue from their kit deal.
The contract with Adidas is one of the club's main sources of revenue alongside their principal partnership with Chevrolet, worth UK64 million (US$80 million) per season, and their sleeve sponsorship with Kohler, which club sources claim is worth UK20 million (US$27.5 million) per season.