LaLiga president Javier Tebas has suggested the top two divisions of Spanish football may adopt a similar sponsorship model to the one introduced by the English Premier League.
The Premier League announced in February that it would replace its title sponsorship model with a seven-sponsor structure and Tebas has confirmed that LaLiga has been talking with a “number of brands” as it seeks to replace its own title sponsor BBVA.
The banking group confirmed in September that the 2015-16 season would be its last as title sponsor of the top-tier Liga and the second-tier Liga Adelante.
Tebas said that “there may not be one” replacement for BBVA, adding: “We can have another three years with a title sponsor, but this is not a rule and instead we could have five sponsors of another level.” Tebas revealed that, “we’re talking with a number of brands internationally to pursue a different strategy.”
BBVA began sponsoring the second-tier Liga Adelante in 2006 before partnering with the Liga two years later. The first and second divisions have since been officially named Liga BBVA and Liga Adelante, respectively. BBVA stated the reasons for its decision “are based on the strategic change the bank is undertaking, with the focus shifting towards the digital transformation of the bank on a global level.”
British banking group Barclays’ title sponsorship agreement with the Premier League expires at the end of the 2015-16 season. Barclays will remain a part of the Premier League's seven-sponsor structure as its first-ever official banking partner.