French automotive manufacturer Citroën has downgraded its long-running partnership with Spanish Liga football club Celta Vigo.
Under the new agreement, Citroën will no longer serve as the club’s main sponsor and will instead sponsor its youth programme through the Celta Vigo Foundation. The length of the new deal, which will begin with the 2016-17 season, was not disclosed.
The downgraded partnership will result in Citroën losing its front-of-shirt branding exposure on Celta’s playing jerseys.
Celta president Carlos Mouriño said: “It’s a huge satisfaction, as part of a group policy, that (even though) Citroën does not sponsor us as the main sponsor, it does not abandon us. That’s the most important thing for us. Do not abandon us, but instead engage in a great project combining grassroots football, children and schools.”
Celta’s partnership with Citroën is one of the longest-running in European football and stretches back 31 years. The club finished sixth in the Liga during the 2015-16 season, qualifying for the group stages of the Uefa Europa League continental knockout competition.
Spanish newspaper La Voz de Galicia said Estrella Galicia and Abanca, which enjoyed branding exposure on Celta’s kit during the 2015-16 season, are the leading contenders to become the club’s new main sponsor.