Barcelona leading Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in race for merchandise sales

Barcelona’s legal battles with Nike have dominated headlines in Catalonia this year, with the club unhappy with its partnership with the American apparel giants.

However, amid uncertainty over Barça’s relationship with Nike, it appears the club have performed exceedingly well when it comes to the sale of merchandise.

Barcelona lead income from merchandise sale

A recent report from UEFA (h/t Mundo Deportivo) has unveiled that Barcelona have led the way in terms of the sale of kits and merchandise.

The Catalans sit atop a prestigious list of the top 20 clubs, with a staggering €179 million in revenue. Barcelona eclipse traditional powerhouses like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, who trail behind in second and third place, respectively.

UEFA’s income analysis combines sponsorship income from kit manufacturers with total marketing income. And it seems Barcelona have nailed this marketing game.

This is hardly a surprise as Barça are one of the biggest brands in world football and have a huge following across the world.

Logical to come out of the Nike deal?

Barcelona’s ability to command such significant revenue suggests that the club holds immense bargaining power in the sponsorship market.

This may lead one to think that Barcelona might be able to harness and unlock more marketing potential by teaming up with a sponsor other than Nike, who have refused to meet the club’s economic demands.

While the prospect of severing ties with Nike may seem daunting, especially considering the legal challenges that are involved, it also represents an opportunity for Barcelona to chart a new course.