Roma have announced that they have signed a new sponsorship deal with local company Linkem, and as part of the agreement the two entities have set up a joint project called ‘Partner of the Future’.
Although the American owners have been unable to agree terms with anyone to become their main shirt sponsors since terminating the previous agreement with Wind in 2013, as part of the agreement Linkem – who provide wireless broadband and ultra-broadband internet to private and business clients – will sponsor the youth teams’ shirts until 2019.
“AS Roma believes this collaboration to be of the utmost strategic importance in supporting the growth of the club, both in Italy and internationally,” the club’s chief executive Umberto Gandini told the official website. “It will underpin our growth both on and off the field, starting with further consolidation of our youth activities.”
The new sponsorship deal will be mutually beneficial for both the club and Linkem in five main ways, as outlined in a club statement.
- The club – with the help of four first-team players – will become an advertising ambassador for Linkem.
- The Linkem logo will be present on jerseys worn by all Roma youth teams, from the Primavera side right down to the football schools.
- The partnership will be given maximum exposure at the Stadio Olimpico, at Tre Fontane, on Roma’s multimedia platforms and at Roma stores.
- Linkem will be the technical supplier of high-performance connectivity services at Roma’s operational centres.
- Linkem will give Roma fans the chance to enjoy unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences with the team and players.
During the press conference in which the collaboration was announced, questions were once again put to Gandini about the first team’s shirt sponsors. “I can only say that the club is working very hard to find the right partner. I think the fact that we have brought companies like Nissan and Linkem on board is a clear signal of the kind of partner we’re looking to be our main shirt sponsors.”
Could that sponsor be Linkem themselves? “We’re certainly interested,” the company’s CEO, Davide Rota, hinted. “We see this as the first step in the journey. It’s an innovative agreement. We’ll see, but we’re definitely interested and even optimistic that we’ll be able to take further steps in the future.”
