AC Milan signs £52m Emirates deal

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The Dubai-owned airline Emirates has announced a 60m-euro (£52m, $82m) sponsorship deal with AC Milan.

The four-year deal, due to begin in July, will see Emirates become Serie A team AC Milan's shirt sponsor in place of the Austrian betting company BWin.

Emirates already sponsors several football teams including Paris Saint Germain, Hamburg and Arsenal.

The airline has a pre-existing sponsorship deal with AC Milan that does not include shirt sponsorship.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, AC Milan's vice president Adriano Galliani said the £52m deal could eventually be worth even more to the club if results on the field go its way.

Milan also has a sponsorship deal with German sports kit maker Adidas until June 2017.

The deal is the latest investment in football by the airline, which is state-owned.

Its sponsorship agreement with Arsenal in 2004 was the biggest in English football history - worth in excess of £100m to the London club.