Real Madrid to ink richest kit sponsorship deal

Adidas and Real Madrid are close to agreeing a huge kit manufacturing deal that would trump the German sportswear brand's record £75m deal with Manchester United.

The ten-time European champions will agree a ten-year extension worth an annual €140 million (US$152 million) a year, eclipsing the value of the contract signed by Adidas and English club Manchester United in July 2014, which came into effect this season.

Of the five most expensive players in history, Real Madrid bough three of them (Gareth Bale for more than $120 million in 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo for more than $110 million in 2009 and James Rodriguez for more than $80 million in 2014). Bale is the most expensive ever, and Ronaldo is second.

Last year Adidas, which has supplied Real Madrid's matchday and training wear since 1998, also renewed with German champions Bayern Munich until 2030 in a €900 million (US$990 million) deal.