Is Nike leaving the South American football market?

Nike began the 2020 with many new features such as the new Air logo, the announcement of the collaborations with Off-White™, Alyx, sacai, Undercover and Ambush and the presentation of the new kits of Nigeria, South Korea and the United States. Among the plans of the American brand seems to be that of gradually leaving the South American continent, at least as regards sponsorship of football clubs. The end of the long-lasting partnership with Boca Juniors was not the only sign of this evident turnaround, given that at the same time Nike decided to broke contracts with other top South American clubs: the Brazilians of Internacional, the Peruvians of Cerro Porteño and Paraguayans of Club Libertad, who chose respectively adidas, PUMA and the semi-unknown Saltarin Rojo.

The American brand want to focus on a few clubs, only five of the top flights: Corinthians (despite numerous rumors regarding a sensational separation) and RB Bragantino (the last affiliate of the Red Bull team) in Brazil, San Lorenzo in Argentina, Alianza Lima in Perù and Atletico Nacional in Colombia. No Uruguayan and Chilean clubs, therefore, but above all a minimal representation of two teams (Corinthians and Alianza Lima, among other things, not even in Pot 1) compared to the 47 participating in the Copa Libertadores 2020. And the situation is not so different for the National teams, as the only ones left are Brazil and Chile.

In parallel with the departure of Nike, the South American market is living adidas strengthening: the German brand has been paying particular attention to the South American teams for a few years, and today it can boast of having put together a team of absolute prestige. Not only the two great rivals of Buenos Aires, River Plate and Boca Juniors, but also the reigning champions of Libertadores as well as the strongest team on the continent, Flamengo, and again Sao Paulo, Olimpia Asuncion, Sporting Cristal, Universidad de Chile, Millionarios and Emelec. Many of these, a few months ago, have been involved in a special collection for adidas' 70th birthday.