Barcelona reject lucrative sponsorship offer due to Luis Figo connection | OneFootball

Given their well-documented financial woes, Barcelona have regularly sought sponsorship as a way of getting out of the mire. They have done very well in this regard over the last few years, and their rise has even allowed them the opportunity to turn down offers that have not suited them.

One such case happened relatively recently, as detailed in Catalunya Radio’s ‘Barça Reservat’ podcast (via MD). Joan Laporta, who has been very active in the media of late, and his board of directors received an offer from Revolut to become Barcelona’s new financial partner. The multinational neobank and financial technology company have been keen to work with the Catalan club, but while the proposal was considered with a lot of interest, it was ultimately rejected.

The reason Barcelona turned down Revolut is very interesting. The report notes that the Catalans did not want to work with the financial company due to its partnership with Luis Figo, who is one of its brand ambassadors. The Portuguese, who famously crossed the El Clasico divide in 2000, is still very much a hated figure in the offices of Can Barca, and given that he’s made reference to his Real Madrid move in Revolut advertisements, the decision was made to turn down the proposal.

Barcelona in negotiations to renew partnership with CaixaBank

Rather than sign with Revolut, Barcelona are looking to renew their agreement with CaixaBank, who had been the club’s financial partner up until their contract expired in April. The Revolut is one of several that has been received over the last few months, although the intention is to keep aligned with one of the longest-serving partners that the Catalans have had.

As for the Revolut case, it’s not a surprise that Barcelona turned down their proposal once it became known that they were partnered with Figo. That move 26 years ago still cuts deep for a lot of people at the club, and many would have seen it as a betrayal had they aligned with the British financial company.