Report: Barcelona closing in on billionaire kit deal with Nike

Barcelona is set to become the highest-earning club on the planet when it comes to kit sponsorship.

According to a report from Diario Ara, the Catalan giants are closing in on a 10-year, €1 billion contract with Nike, who will continue to make the Blaugrana kit for the next decade. The deal will be signed and announced in the upcoming weeks, and Barça's €100 million-per-year deal would surpass Manchester United's €96 million/year agreement with Adidas as the richest kit sponsorship in the world.

Barça and Nike have been negotiating for over a year on a new deal, and there was fear among board members that president Josep Maria Bartomeu wouldn't be able to reach an agreement. But the boss was calm and confident throughout the process, and apparently he won the battle and got what he wanted from the North American supplier.

One of the biggest factors for Nike's gigantic investment on the Catalan club is the Manchester United loss. The Red Devils wore Nike for 13 years, but when they changed to Adidas, the Oregon company needed to ensure they wouldn't lose Barcelona as well. Bartomeu took advantage of that fact and never changed his demands, and after months and months of negotiations, a deal has been closed.

If the reports are accurate, the club's finances get a huge boost, and Nike will continue to make our beautiful kits. Well done, Barto. Well done.