Latest news with #MarcusRashford
New York Times
28 minutes ago
- Business
- New York Times
Barcelona agree €44m sponsorship deal with DR Congo
Barcelona have agreed a kit sponsorship deal with the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ministry of Sports and Leisure. The sponsorship ensures the central African nation's logo of 'DRC, coeur de l'Afrique' (DRC, the heart of Africa) will appear on the back of all of Barca's professional team's training kits. Advertisement Club sources indicate the total package for the deal, which is a four-year agreement, is worth €44million ($50.5m) to the Catalan club, with the first annual instalment in excess of €10m already paid. As part of the agreement, Barcelona say their revamped Camp Nou stadium will be home to the House of the DRC, an exhibition which 'will highlight the richness and diversity of Congolese cultural and sporting heritage through interactive exhibitions', according to the club statement. Barca added the agreement will see a program of sports camps and clinics for children in the area that would focus on football, basketball, handball, futsal, and roller hockey. The agreement will help Barcelona in their attempts to ease their deep financial problems and La Liga's strict salary cap rules, which have created complications for registering new signings. Growing the club's income and adding sponsorship agreements are crucial to the club's plans to incorporate new signings this summer, having added goalkeeper Joan Garcia and young forward Roony Bardghji on permanent deals, in addition to the loan addition of Marcus Rashford. In June, Monaco and Milan also struck agreements with DR Congo's Ministry of Sports and Leisure. The Monaco deal sees 'DRC, coeur de l'Afrique' appear on the sleeve of Monaco's first-team kit, which will feature in the 2025-26 Champions League, and will also appear as a front-of-kit sponsor on the club's academy teams. The Ligue 1 side say the association 'aims to contribute to the development of Congolese football and boost the country's international profile'. Monaco's CEO Thiago Scuro said the deal means the club can help 'to contribute to the country's reputation and support efforts to structure and develop local football'. Milan said their deal 'will be at the heart of an international platform aimed at supporting the socioeconomic development of the African nation' and 'will support the DR Congo's strategy to boost international tourism.' Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) detailed 'a deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation' in DR Congo. HRW said president Felix Tshisekedi oversaw a 'crackdown on opposition members, civil society activists, critics, and journalists throughout 2024'. Monusco, the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, has condemned attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) — which it describes as an 'Islamic State-affiliated insurgent group' — this month. An attack over the night of July 26 to 27 saw at least 49 civilians killed, with many worshippers attending a night vigil in the Ituri province, Monusco reported. Earlier this month, an attack in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces saw 82 civilians killed. In June, DR Congo and its eastern neighbour Rwanda signed a peace deal in Washington D.C. aimed at ending decades of conflict between the nations, asking for 'a negotiated, political resolution — rather than a military solution'. The deal demanded the 'disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration' of armed groups fighting in eastern DR Congo. However, former DR Congo president Joseph Kabila, said it was 'nothing more than a trade agreement'. Advertisement Conflict in the mineral-rich region has intensified this year, but the area has endured more than three decades of conflict since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The war is primarily between the Rwandan-backed March 23 Movement (M23) paramilitary group and DR Congo's army. M23 is backed by Rwanda, the DRC's much smaller neighbour whose troops have trained, armed and embedded with the rebels, according to the United Nations. Rwanda has acknowledged that its troops are in the DRC but denied controlling M23. In 2024, a group of UN experts said that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the rebels. They also said the Rwandan army was in 'de facto control of M23 operations'. DR Congo, the United States, the United Kingdom and France also say Rwanda is supporting the M23. The UK government suspended aid to Rwanda in February over its support for the M23 rebel group in DR Congo. War in eastern DR Congo has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of people since fighting surged this year. In February, Amnesty International wrote to the European Union to say that 'urgent action is required' on the 'escalating human rights crisis' in the east of DR Congo. Rwanda's tourist board also holds sponsorship agreements in European football. Arsenal's Visit Rwanda shirt sleeve sponsorship for the men's and women's teams began in 2018, initially on a three-year deal which was extended in 2021. As reported in the club's accounts for 2023-24, the sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda brought in £10million ($13.4m) as part of an overall commercial income of £218.3m. Visit Rwanda also holds a deal with Bundesliga club Bayern Munich — Rwandan president Paul Kagame attended the Champions League match between the two clubs at the Emirates Stadium in April 2024 — and with Paris Saint-Germain. (Top image: Stuart Franklin – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bayern Munich officially announces the signing of Luis Diaz.
Getty Images Although there was a lot of tug of war from Barcelona to acquire the player's services, it appears that the Spanish team has completely settled for signing Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, who will undoubtedly be the player who will occupy the left wing position. The deal for Nico Williams also fell through before the signing of Marcus Rashford, and now one of the Spanish club's targets, Colombian Luis Diaz, has officially become a Bayern Munich player on a four-year contract until 2029. How much did Bayern Munich pay for the Colombian? According to reliable press reports, most notably from Diario AS, Bayern Munich has spent the full amount of 70 million euros to acquire the services of the talented Colombian player from the English giants. Barcelona had submitted an official offer of no more than 60 million euros, which was rejected by Liverpool. Now, the Colombian will receive 17 million euros annually with Bayern Munich, which is three times his previous salary with Liverpool. "I'm very happy. It means a lot to me to be part of Bayern Munich – it's one of the biggest clubs in the world. I want to help my new team with my style of play and my personality. My goal is to win every possible title, and that's what we will work towards every day as a team" said the Colombian.
CNA
3 hours ago
- Sport
- CNA
Shaw backs Amorim's bid to improve 'toxic' Man Utd dressing room
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has backed manager Ruben Amorim's uncompromising approach to improve the standards in the dressing room, saying the atmosphere had been "quite toxic" at times. Amorim took charge at struggling United in November and demanded more commitment from the squad. He also froze out key figures like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, who were among five players seeking to exit the club in the close season. "A lot of the time I've been here over the last few years it's been extremely negative," said Shaw, a United player since 2014, in an interview with the BBC published on Wednesday. "It can be quite toxic, the environment, it's not healthy at all... we need an environment that's healthy, that's positive, that's got good energy and happiness. When you have all those things, you feel free and you express yourself more. "Ruben brings demands. Mentality is a big thing. He talks a lot about it... he demands 100 per cent and doesn't want anything less. If someone's doing 85-90 per cent, it's not enough. I think, especially this year, if you're not doing the right things, you won't play." Amorim was uncompromising as he questioned Rashford's work rate, saying he would rather pick the goalkeeper coach than half-hearted players. Rashford has joined Barcelona on loan, while British media reports have linked Garnacho with a move to Chelsea or Aston Villa. "The manager's not bothered. He doesn't care who the player is. That's how it should be. Whatever he wants, as players, we have to be delivering, and we are fully behind that," Shaw added. United, who finished 15th last season and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, begin the new campaign at home against Arsenal on August 17.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Shaw backs Amorim's bid to improve 'toxic' Man Utd dressing room
July 30 (Reuters) - Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has backed manager Ruben Amorim's uncompromising approach to improve the standards in the dressing room, saying the atmosphere had been "quite toxic" at times. Amorim took charge at struggling United in November and demanded more commitment from the squad. He also froze out key figures like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, who were among five players seeking to exit the club in the close season. "A lot of the time I've been here over the last few years it's been extremely negative," said Shaw, a United player since 2014, in an interview with the BBC published on Wednesday. "It can be quite toxic, the environment, it's not healthy at all... we need an environment that's healthy, that's positive, that's got good energy and happiness. When you have all those things, you feel free and you express yourself more. "Ruben brings demands. Mentality is a big thing. He talks a lot about it... he demands 100% and doesn't want anything less. If someone's doing 85-90%, it's not enough. I think, especially this year, if you're not doing the right things, you won't play." Amorim was uncompromising as he questioned Rashford's work rate, saying he would rather pick the goalkeeper coach than half-hearted players. Rashford has joined Barcelona on loan, while British media reports have linked Garnacho with a move to Chelsea or Aston Villa. "The manager's not bothered. He doesn't care who the player is. That's how it should be. Whatever he wants, as players, we have to be delivering, and we are fully behind that," Shaw added. United, who finished 15th last season and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, begin the new campaign at home against Arsenal on August 17.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rashford to Barcelona: Wes Brown gives delivers his raw verdict in exclusive interview
In an exclusive interview with The Peoples Person courtesy of WhichBookie, Manchester United legend Wes Brown has made his feelings known about Marcus Rashford's loan to FC Barcelona with a £30 million option to buy. On Sunday, Rashford made his debut for Barcelona, enjoying a 34-minute cameo in his new club's 3-1 win over Vissel Kobe in Japan. He produced an impressive performance, helping to engineer Barca's opening goal on the night. One such performance could raise concern that Man United may have made a mistake by parting ways with him, even temporarily – an issue addressed by Brown. Doubts over Rashford's departure Former United midfielder Paul Pogba called his former club 'unlucky' for losing Rashford, whom he referred to as 'a great player.' Given this concern, The Peoples Person asked Brown if he feels that United made the right move by sending Rashford to Barcelona on loan with an option to buy. 'Listen, it's been tough. The manager and Marcus haven't been getting on well. Marcus needs to play. He obviously got loaned out to Aston Villa,' he explained, setting the scene for Rashford's departure. 'And going from Man United, Barcelona is a good club to go to, so Marcus will be happy with that as well.' 'He's just trying to get on with his football, but, in the long picture, you can see the manager, he [Rashford] won't be involved in the long sort of future, so it's very good that he got the move and he can start his football again, and I think for Marcus, it's a brilliant club.' Still, Brown did express some concern over the void that Rashford may have left behind. 'For us, I hope that doesn't hurt us in the long run because obviously we all wanted Marcus to really do well and stay at Manchester United for as long as he can as a Manchester lad, but as you know in football, things don't always work out like that.' 'But obviously for Marcus, I'm pretty sure he'd be delighted with that.' While Rashford will be looking to reinvent himself in Spain, United will be hopeful that exciting new signings such as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo will fill the void he leaves behind. Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images online polls Follow us on Bluesky: @
