The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Puma Manchester City Media

Puma reportedly pursues Pep Guardiola to build upon £650m Man City deal

Author

By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

March 27, 2019 | 3 min read

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly on the verge of securing a “multi-million pound” deal with apparel-maker Puma, months after the brand became City Group’s kit manufacturer.

Puma

Pep in Amazon Prime's All or Nothing documentary

Back in February, Manchester City-owner City Group agreed a £650m kit partnership with Puma lasting a decade. This saw it sponsor the Manchester giants in addition to four sister clubs across Australia, Spain, Uruguay and China. At £65m, annually, the fee is slightly behind rival United’s record-breaking £75m a year deal with Adidas but matches Arsenal and Chelsea.

The Man City partnership was the largest deal Puma has ever done, “both in scope and ambition” said Bjørn Gulden, chief executive of Puma when the deal was sealed.

During this, Gulden cited manager “Pep Guardiola’s appeal” as a significant factor in attracting the sum.

“I think the fans globally like to see interesting and attacking football and City and Pep have that image. Pep as a personality is a positive thing. I think that you look at the players - it's going to be a brand leader of course.”

Not active until July, Puma’s deal may come after City lifts the Premier League. The club currently sits second in the league, two points below Liverpool with a game in hand.

The new deal will dwarf the reported £20m a year the current Nike deal is providing.

The Daily Mail reports that Puma, not content with securing five City Group teams, is reportedly pursuing City’s manager and several of its players for individual partnerships. Leroy Sane, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling are among the stars on the slate.

Neither the club nor the brand has confirmed the news.

Puma Manchester City Media

More from Puma

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +