The agreement that is for three years plus another two as an option is announced and inlcudes a friendly game in Latin America "One of the reasons that Telefónica have joined up with us is the players that we have," according to the vice president
FC Barcleona and Telefónica presented their sponsorship agreement, which will see the telecommunications company be a regional partner in Latin America, at a press conference at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper that was attended by vice president Javier Faus and the José Maria Álvarez-Pallete, Telefónica’s delegate councillor.
The Club is keen to strengthen it long standing relationship with Telefónica that stretches back to the 1990s. The objective is to grow and create a stronger partnership in Latin America, a region that is key for the organisation’s global expansion, and where Barça at the moment have more than 50 million fans. The Telefónica group currently sits in sixth place in the world telecommunications sector in terms of capitalisation on the stock market and in first place as an integrated European operator.
The sponsorship agreement is for three years with an option for another two and it includes a friendly in South America during the first three years. FC Barcelona will receive €13.3 million a season thanks to this agreement.
Telefónica’s strength in the telecommunication industry means that in the coming months, there will be a wifi network at Camp Nou according to vice president Javier Faus.
FC Barcelona vice president Javier Faus:
“Latin America is a region that Barça has always had great interest in developing. Within our strategic plan is it an important priority.”
“One of the reasons for which Telefónica have decided to take this step to join up with us is due to the players that we have. We have the three players who form the most potent strike force in the world and that is very important for Telefónica.”
“Telefónica allows us to reach more people, more places in the world and further afield. It is important for our growth that our content and our matches are seen by the maximum number of people in the world.”
Over the exploitation of television rights for the season 2015/16, Faus assured: “The financial offers from Telefónica and Mediapro in the area of TV rights were identical. The decision was a strategic one, more quality than quantity. Telefónica is a company that wants to make an impact in this area, investing in business and innovation.”
“Maybe in six or nine months time, it is a technically complex operation, the FC Barcelona members will be able to enjoy wifi at Camp Nou.”
Telefónica delegate councillor José María Álvarez-Pallete:
“It is especially exciting for us to have reached this agreement to be a special partner all over Latin America for this season and the next four.”
“It is an historic agreement. It allows us to share the values of sport with our customers and friends in more than 20 countries. We will be able to grow the Telefónica, Vivo and Movistar brands and we will bring Barça closer to these regions.”
“Nobody has invested more than Telefónica in the region. We have dedicated effort and commitment and we have the ability to distribute and a global presence that is difficult to replicate.”