Dubai Airshow: Qatar Airways to renew Barcelona sponsorship ‘only if price is right’

Airline chief Akbar Al Baker tells The National that is willing to play hardball with the Spanish football giants.

Barcelona's Luis Suarez, right, and Neymar celebrate a goal against Villarreal during their match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Sunday. Albert Gea / Reuters

Qatar Airways will consider renewing a shirt sponsorship deal with Barcelona only if the price is right.

The Catalan club are pursuing a record sponsorship contract but the Doha-based airline has not yet agreed a deal.

The outspoken boss of the airline Akbar Al Baker on Sunday suggested he was willing to play hard ball with the European champions.

"We are in the middle of negotiations with them. If the conditions and the price is correct we will consider," he told The National on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow. "We cannot consider if the commercial proposal they put is unacceptable to us."

It is understood that the Doha-based airline paid the current La Liga and Champions League winners more than €32 million (Dh126.5m) in sponsorship last season.

The three big Gulf carriers together sponsor some of the biggest names in European sport with Etihad Airways displayed on the shirts of Manchester City and Emirates adorning the Arsenal and Real Madrid kits.

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