BARCELONA are set to sell the naming rights to the Nou Camp within the next “one or two months”, according to reports. And Mike Tyson’s cannabis business partner Alki David is reportedly in the mix to land the deal. According to Mundo Deportivo, a small number of offers have come in from large foreign multinationals […]
BARCELONA are set to sell the naming rights to the Nou Camp within the next “one or two months”, according to reports.
And Mike Tyson’s cannabis business partner Alki David is reportedly in the mix to land the deal.
According to Mundo Deportivo, a small number of offers have come in from large foreign multinationals keen to sponsor the famous stadium for the 2020/21 season.
It is the first time the historic ground will have naming rights attached to it since its opening in 1957.
The idea is to raise some much-needed additional revenue to help counter the financial impact of coronavirus but the club also plan to donate some to fund “research projects and the worldwide fight against the coronavirus pandemic”.
Barcelona have been hit hard by the global crisis – so much so that they have transfer listed the entire first-team squad except Lionel Messi, Frenkie de Jong and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The Catalan giants hoped to only have a sponsorship name for the Nou Camp for one year but the deal could be extended.
Each of the bidders remain secret and will be reviewed by the club before a decision is made, probably by August.
But one of them is thought to be David.
Billionaire David – who runs a CBD (cannabidiol) business with friend and ex-heavyweight champion boxer Tyson – believes he is in a good position to win the naming rights after entering negotiations with the Spanish side.
He said: “This is an opportunity that I am bullish about. It is an historic moment in the history of sport and it fits well with my current plans.
“Contact was opened at the start of the week and I am quietly confident the deal will be secured.
“This deal with the Nou Camp is another way to help. It is full of all the energy that Barcelona stands for.
“My health company has been working hard with top virologists, including the UK’s Dr Dorothy Bray, to look at any way we can hit this virus.”
David is worth around £2.6billion and owns companies such as FilmOn, home-shopping website 9021go.com and streaming-video site BattleCam.com.
As well as appearing in various Hollywood films, he is also the heir to the plants which bottle Coca-Cola.
The 51-year-old was arrested on the Caribbean Island of St Kitts in May last year after more than £900,000 worth of cannabis was allegedly found on board his private jet.
Despite the incident, David insists his “record is as clean as it gets” as he plans for a “beautiful partnership” with Barca.
On the pitch, Barcelona resume their season after the Covid-19 lockdown with a trip to take on Mallorca on Saturday.
And the Nou Camp will host football again next Tuesday when Leganes travel to Catalonia for their league clash.
There are 11 games left of the current LaLiga season, with Barca one point clear of rivals Real Madrid at the top.
The league leaders are still in the Champions League, with the second leg of their last-16 tie with Napoli still to be played.
Antoine Griezmann’s equaliser cancelled out Dries Mertens’ goal in the first leg in Italy on February 25.
