The 10-year relationship between Sergio Ramos and Nike is set to come to an end in the coming months as the defender seeks a new sponsorship contract. Still wearing his Nike boots, the Spaniard has blacked out the American manufacturer's logo recently and will continue to do so until a new sportswear provider can be found with the derby against Atletico Madrid an upcoming match expected to draw in large TV audiences. A four-year contract worth 2 million euros per season is Ramos' objective, with his current ban on wearing other brands ending in February, as do the first refusal rights held by his existing sponsor.
Negotiations continue between Ramos and Nike but no agreement has been found at this stage, setting the stage for the Real Madrid star's departure, which would come off the back of Cristiano Ronaldo's bumper re-signing, believed to be worth up to 10m euros annually, with the multinational firm.Nike, Sergio Ramos looks ready to kick the famous brand into touch after blacking out the company logo on his boots. For the past 10 years, the Real Madrid defender has been loyal to the American corporation but looks set to move on. He will continue wearing their boots - blacked out - until next February as a clause prevents him from looking for another brand in the six months after the contract expires.
Although Nike have first refusal and could match any other offer, the absence of the captain in a worldwide publicity campaign looks like being the final straw for the player who feels he deserves a more central role. When Fernando Torres found himself in a similar situation, he switched to Adidas. Ramos's status reduces the number of brands who can afford a sponsorship deal for a player to show off their boots with Los Blancos and Spain but Adidas, Puma, Joma, New Balance and Under Armour are some of the names being mentioned. While he decides the colour of the boots to play in during the next few seasons, the centre-back will carry on painting them black until he finds a company whose footwear suits his football and who understands how to treat him.
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