Atlético Madrid is searching for a new sponsor for their stadium. The club and the construction company Cívitas are currently negotiating the company's potential exit from sponsoring the Metropolitano.

Riyadh Air Metropolitano?

El Independiente reports that Atlético may have already found a worthy replacement, with deeper pockets. The media outlet claims that Riyadh Air, the club's current main sponsor, is already in discussions to see if they can expand their presence by acquiring the naming rights to the Metropolitano. Although other companies have shown interest, Riyadh Air seems to have an advantage as they are already a sponsor of the club. The airline is reportedly offering an amount significantly higher than what Cívitas is currently paying. The agreement with Cívitas was signed in 2022 for a 10-year term.

Under their current sponsorship deal, Riyadh Air already pays €40 million per year to have their name on Atlético's shirts. This is one of the largest deals in LaLiga, just behind Fly Emirates and Spotify. The Saudi Arabian airline, owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, has yet to begin operations, with its first flights expected in 2025.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak

The airline is forecasted to contribute around €20 billion to Saudi Arabia's GDP and plans to employ 200,000 people. Riyadh Air aims to serve over 100 global destinations by 2030, leveraging the Kingdom's strategic location between Asia, Africa, and Europe, according to El Independiente.