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12 October 2004
COLOGNE – Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has been linked with a sponsorship deal at the German second division football club Cologne, the local Express daily reported on Tuesday.
“It would be an honour for us to win a man like Michael Schumacher,” Express quoted Cologne president Wolfgang Overath as saying.
Ferrari star Schumacher was born and raised near Cologne in Kerpen. He has always been a fan of the city’s top football club and is also a club member since 2002.
Express said that Schumacher and Cologne almost reached an sponsorship agreement last year before another company came up with a more lucrative offer.
Schumacher is said to earn USD 35 million (EUR 28.3 million) per year at Ferrari and rakes in more money from other sponsorship contracts and his merchandising.
“It is up to Michael Schumacher to reach a decision,” Overath was quoted as saying.
Winning Schumacher as a partner is one part of Cologne’s strategy to generate income and return to the Bundesliga on a permanent basis after several up-and-down seasons in recent years.
In addition, a deal with the F1 star would likely considerably improve Cologne’s image in Germany and abroad.
DPA
Subject: German news