Bayern Munich’sMichael Olise appears to be on the verge of signing a new contract. For the French national team player, the deal would be a first.
Michael Olise could soon put an end to his unusual situation on the equipment market. According to information from L’Équipe, the FC Bayern forward is close to reaching an agreement with Nike. This would mark the first time the French player has had an official shoe sponsor.
As early as October, reports based on information from the Footy Headlines website had suggested that a Nike contract had allegedly been finalized. The new report now paints a different picture: According to the report, the contract has not yet been signed, but a deal is getting closer. Financial details are not known.
The background to this is noteworthy: Olise has been playing in Nike cleats for years without being paid for it. Until now, his preference for a specific model was simply the deciding factor. While other stars have entered into lucrative partnerships with manufacturers, the Bayern pro has stuck to his personal choice.
Now, Nike apparently wants to turn this connection into a formal partnership. However, competitors weren’t willing to hand the French player over to the U.S. company without a fight: Adidas and On are also said to have expressed interest in signing him.
Nike wants to make Olise its new poster boy
According to the report, this move also holds strategic importance for Nike. Following the loss of Kylian Mbappé, funds are now available to invest in a new superstar. Olise is expected to play a key role in this. The company is reportedly determined to secure the Bayern Munich pro as its new prominent face.
There had already been reports of possible broader marketing plans involving Olise. The current report, however, focuses primarily on the upcoming shoe deal.
Interest in the French player has long extended beyond sporting goods manufacturers. According to people close to him, he regularly receives inquiries from various industries. These include fashion, footwear, and autographed fan merchandise. For Olise, however, such an inquiry is apparently far from a reason to enter into a partnership.
“Michael would rather focus on soccer and would only consider a partnership with a brand if he felt it was a perfect fit for him,” the report states.
This attitude explains why Olise has managed to get by without an official shoe sponsor so far, despite his athletic progress. That could now change with Nike. However, a contract signing or an official announcement of the partnership is still pending.