Adidas Denies Offering Half for Messi Transfer

Adidas has denied a report claiming that it offered up to 125 million euros [$167 million] this past summer so that Barcelona striker Lionel Messi could join one of its sponsors:Real Madrid, Chelsea or Bayern Munich. According to Mundo Deportivo, the sportswear giant would pay half of Messi’s 250 million euro [$334.5 million] buyout clause and then raise its owncommercial contract with the buying club by 40 percent if one of its club partners would supply the other 50 percent. Adidas responded to the story with the following statement: “Therelationship of Adidas with one of its players is purely commercial. Any sporting decision is between the player and his representatives.”