PARIS — Signaling the end of a decades-long partnership, Adidas on Tuesday said it will not renew its contract with the French league one soccer club Olympique de Marseille after the end of the 2017-18 season.
The company said that after months of negotiations, and despite “several dynamic and ambitious proposals” on its part, it had failed to come to an agreement with the team’s new management on the terms of a new contract.
“As the club’s principal financial partner for many years, Adidas accompanied a club dear to its heart to the core with professionalism, commitment and success, both through the legendary moments and the more delicate times,” Adidas stated.
The German sporting goods giant is the main supplier to a number of the world’s leading soccer clubs including Manchester United, Real Madrid, FC Bayern Munich, Juventus Turin and AC Milan, as well as star players such as Leo Messi, Gareth Bale, Luis Suárez and Paul Pogba. As the official partner of a number of the world’s most important football competitions, such as the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Confederations Cup and the UEFA Champions League, Adidas also equips a number of football federations including Spain, Germany and Argentina.
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