Real Madrid desiring to enter into a sponsorship agreement with Apple – report | OneFootball

Tim Cook’s recent visit to Real Madrid’s Valdebebas headquarters has sparked the year-old rumour that the team from the Spanish capital still desires to get in association with Apple, reports The Athletic.

Cook, CEO of Apple, made an unexpected appearance at Valdebebas where he was seen holding a Real Madrid club jersey in their trophy room alongside club president Florentino Perez.

He also watched the first team training session after which he greeted Carlo Ancelotti and Nacho.

The visit was not business-related

The aforementioned outlet confirms that while the official purpose of the visit was not business-related, Cook did take the opportunity to meet with some of the club’s top executives.

This included discussions with key figures like Jose Angel Sanchez and Manolo Redondo, senior directors, as well as Alex Wicks, the newly appointed head of retail and licensing, who also holds the position of head of partnerships.

The Apple delegation displayed a genuine interest in gaining an inside perspective on the Spanish football club, something that was also the agenda of his visit to German champions Bayern Munich in September last year.

On both occasions, Cook was eager to delve into the management of youth teams, their objectives, and the utilization of GPS data during matches and training sessions, facilitated through iPad.

Apple’s relationship with Real Madrid

For what it is worth, it’s essential to contextualize Cook’s visit within the backdrop of the evolving relationship between Real Madrid and Apple.

Long before Real Madrid entered into an agreement with Apple TV for the distribution of their documentary, “La Decimocuarta: Until The End,” there were preliminary discussions between the club and Cook’s company regarding the potential for a broader sponsorship deal.

Real Madrid insiders suggest that Cook’s recent interest in football was a pivotal factor behind his visit to Valdebebas. The question arises: could this be the moment when Apple and the record European champions forge an alliance? Well, not quite yet, but it certainly stands as one of the club’s aspirations.

“Hopefully one day it will be done,” said one Real executive.

“Anything is possible. We have already collaborated with them on the documentary,” said another.

For now, Real Madrid’s most lucrative sponsorship deal is with Adidas, followed by Emirates Airlines. In 2019, they extended their agreement with Adidas until 2028, reportedly valued at approximately €152 million annually.

However, the club remains open to exploring other opportunities in the market. For instance, last year, Real Madrid inked a sponsorship deal with BMW, reportedly worth €7.5 million annually, which also included the provision of electric cars to players and staff by the German automaker.