Corinthians weigh billion-real kit shakeup | OneFootball

The Corinthians board is set to review a substantial sponsorship offer from Adidas that, if accepted, could reshape the club’s commercial landscape. The German sportswear giant has put forward a proposal estimated at R$1 billion over a ten-year period, aiming to become the team’s official kit manufacturer.

The matter will be discussed at the next meeting of Corinthians’ Conselho de Orientação (CORI), with the club’s executive leadership awaiting formal notice regarding the session’s timing. Adidas is reportedly prepared to elevate Corinthians to a high-priority tier among its global partners, promising the same level of commercial and branding support currently reserved for major European sides like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Juventus.

Before any negotiations with Adidas can progress, the club’s leadership, headed by President Augusto Melo, requires CORI’s approval. This is necessary both from a governance perspective and because of the club’s ongoing contract with Nike—a partnership running since 2003. Terminating the Nike deal before its expiration could involve legal disputes and a significant financial penalty.

CORI itself currently consists of a mix of elected members and ex-presidents, several of whom have not been active participants in club affairs in recent years. Within the current composition, a majority of the elected members supported Augusto Melo at the start of his tenure as president. However, even with CORI’s green light, the transition to Adidas would not be immediate, given the complexities surrounding the club’s existing obligations.

If the proposal does move forward, it would mark Corinthians’ exit from a long-standing collaboration with Nike in favor of Adidas’ substantial investment and broader international footprint. For the club, navigating both the legal and political considerations will be essential in the coming weeks as it weighs the promise of increased revenue and global exposure against the costs and risks of shifting partners.

This development comes at a delicate period for Corinthians, with financial oversight, on-pitch challenges, and leadership scrutiny all converging. The Adidas offer stands as a potential turning point, but one that requires careful handling and consensus within the upper echelons of club management.

Source: Globo