Qataris eye big PSG investment

20/09/2012 07:33 AST

A Qatari investor is in advanced discussions with Paris Saint-Germain about a 100-million-euro ($130 million) per year sponsorship contract over several seasons, sources in France and Qatar told AFP yesterday.

The size of the contract with the financial insititution, which is likely to last for four years, could be worth between 350 million and 400 million euros, the same sources added.

In February, publicity material at the Parc des Princes ground said that the Paris club and the Qatar National Bank (QNB) had established links.

“There is a partnership project between Paris Saint-Germain and a Qatari financial institution for a sum of about 100 million euros a year,” one well-placed source in French football told AFP, confirming details given by a member of the club owners’ entourage.

PSG, who are owned by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), said in response that they had “no comment to make on any contract,” adding: “We will give details about our contracts as and when they’re signed.”

According to a document sent to AFP, the financial establishment in question wants to become PSG’s shirt sponsor from next season.

The United Arab Emirates-based airline Emirates is the current shirt sponsor. It has had its name on club jerseys since 2006 in a 3.5-million-euro a year deal that runs out in 2014, according to PSG.

Despite the reports about a new sponsor, Emirates told AFP that they were close to agreeing a renewal of their shirt sponsorship deal with the club.

“We will not comment on press stories,” said Boutros Boutros from Emirates’ sponsorship division.

“All I can say is that we have an excellent relationship with the club, and with the owner of the club, Nasser Al Khelaifi, and that we are at the final stage of renewing our shirt sponsorship of the club for another five years.”

Qatari investors would also like to have their name on the club’s home ground, the Parc des Princes, although that name will stay, as the ground belongs to the local authority in Paris.

With new backing, PSG, who have spent nearly 250 million euros on transfers since QSI became owners in June 2011, are hoping to bring their finances into line with European governing body UEFA’s Financial Fair Play system.

AFP