09/06/2009 17:01
Football: Emirates airline eyes sponsorship of AC Milan
Emirates airline has offered 20 million euros per season to gain the top sponsorship of the storied Italian football club AC Milan, Italian media reported on Sunday.
The air carrier could utimately shell out 150 million euros but so far has a bid on the table for 80 million euros over four seasons, according to Il Sole 24 Ore, an Italian news site.
Citing sources close to the club, the site reported that the Emirates offer is twice what current sponsor Bwin pays.
It has been courting the club business for months, the Italian news service said.
The bid comes after the Dubai government denied an Italian newspaper report last week that its ruler had offered $568 million for a 40 percent stake in the club.
Milan, with its star David Beckham, trained for a week earlier this year in Dubai.
Emirates Airline, in the meantime, is in the process of revaluating its global marketing strategies.