BY KERIM ULKER
The national flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) is holding talks with Spain-based football club FC Barcelona for new sponsorship, according to the Spanish media.
The airline company is interested in partnership with Joan Laporta, President of FC Club Barcelona, and his team for sponsorship.
However, they are facing five competitors for the empty spot on the player’s sleeve.
Turkish Airlines inked a 3-year sponsorship deal with Barcelona in 2010 when it paid EUR 7.7m, in total, for 2.5 years. Half of the sponsorship fee was paid in advance at the beginning of the season while a barter agreement was signed for the remainder.
Turkish Airlines sponsors various clubs and teams in different sports, from golf to diving. The national airline carrier, which sponsors the Turkish National Basketball team and EuroLeauge, also hosts the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup and Turkish Airlines Open in golf.
The company, which is also sponsor for the Turkish National football team, supports a variety of domestic football teams, including Galatasaray, Trabzonspor, and Basaksehir. It also sponsored Bosnia-Herzegovania’s FK Sarajevo team for the 2015-2016 season.
It’s sponsorships also span continents – the company is a sponsor for the Argentinian soccer team River Plate’s uniform and has been among the main sponsors of the IFK Helsinki ice hockey team since 2015.
