Qatar Airways seeks to extend commercial links with Barcelona. Qatar Airways hopes to maintain commercial ties with Barcelona despite ending its contract to sponsor the Spanish champions’ shirts, CEO Akbar Al Baker said on Monday. Barca signed the most lucrative shirt sponsorship deal in world soccer last month by agreeing a four-year deal with Japanese internet retailer Rakuten worth 55 million euros ($58.9 million) a year. Qatar Airways will cease to be the club’s shirt sponsor from next season and Al Baker did not hide his disappointment at losing out to Rakuten.
