Messi and Barcelona team-mates ordered to return freebie cars to Audi within three weeks after sponsorship ends

Posted Sunday, July 21, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk

AUDI have demanded Barcelona's stars return their freebie cars after the car manufacturer's Cam'p Nou sponsorship ended.

Lionel Messi and Co were able to select any top-of-the-range model they fancied last year after the German company partnered up with Barca.

Messi and Barcelona team-mates ordered to return freebie cars to Audi within three weeks after sponsorship ends
Lionel Messi and his Barcelona team-mates have to return their freebie motors to AudiCredit: Getty - Contributor

Messi chose an Audi RS 6 Avant worth about £130,000 while Ivan Rakitic went for an Audi Q7 worth £65,000.

But now, after Audi's deal with the Spanish giants finished on June 30, they have recalled the motors, according to AS.

The company has given a three-week deadline for the players to return the supercars.

Barcelona's players had used the cars as their daily ride to and from the club's training ground.

Last year, Audi's Christian Guenthner told SunSport: "For official business occasions they use their Audi. During the selection process Audi and the club work hand in hand.

CATALAN CARS

"Players can choose from the whole range of models, usually starting with smaller cars for the younger players.

"They each get to choose a new model every season with a lot of optional extras. And with our Audi Exclusive catalogue options, there are infinitely many possibilities."

But not any more.

The move ends a 13-year relationship between the Catalan club and German car giant who also had deals with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Messi and Barcelona team-mates ordered to return freebie cars to Audi within three weeks after sponsorship ends
Luis Suarez was all smiles when he picked up his freebie AudiCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Messi and Barcelona team-mates ordered to return freebie cars to Audi within three weeks after sponsorship ends
Lionel Messi will have to return his Audi RS 6 Avant performance Sepang blueCredit: News Group Newspapers

Every season the players would get a brand-new cars with Audi selling the second-hand models.

Sergio Busquets had the most expensive motor with his Audi R8 Coupe V10 plus, in Daytona grey, costing £192,000.

Guenthner added: "Is there a chance to buy one of these cars after the players used them? Yes, it's possible to get one of the cars on the official Audi used-car market."