Palmeiras and Crefisa last week announced the renewal of their sponsorship agreement, securing the highest amount paid to any club in South America and the 10th highest in the world, pushing Juventus (US$ 19 million/year) from the list. Although figures were not disclosed by Crefisa president Leila Pereira and Palmeiras president Maurício Gagliotti at the announcement, they are known to sum approximately US$ 24 million/year, for two years, bonuses for championship titles not included.
In addition to the sponsorship deal, Crefisa continues to boost Palmeiras’ contracting power. The acquired outstanding 50% of Dudu’s economic rights is an example, the recent signing of Miguel Borja, at a US$ 10.5 million price tag, another.
In 2016, Crefisa saw a record profit, some US$ 325 million. It is hard to calculate the impact of Crefisa’s increased visibility on its profits, but without doubt the deal with Palmeiras brought the company into the spotlights. Some sports journalists insinuate money laundering to explain the relatively high sponsorship deal, ignoring the splendid results Crefisa presents. It is rather revolting how a well-established private financial institution suffers accusations, while state-run companies like Petrobras and Caixa use public funds to sponsor many a team in Brazil, little questions asked.
Below, a list of the ten biggest sponsorship deals worldwide in football (according to Forbes).
#1 Manchester United (Chevrolet) – US$ 80 million/year
#2 Chelsea (Yokahoma Rubber) – US$ 57 million/year
#3 Manchester City (Etihad) – US$ 57 million/year (including stadium naming rights)
#4 Liverpool (Standard Chartered) – US$ 43 million/year
#5 Arsenal (Emirates) – US$ 43 million/year (including stadium naming rights)
#6 Barcelona (Qatar Airways) – US$ 41 million/year
#7 Bayern Munchen (Deutche Telecom) – US$ 34 million/year
#8 Real Madrid (Emirates) – US$ 34 million/year
#9 Paris Saint-Germain (Emirates) – US$ 28 million/year
#10 Palmeiras (Crefisa) – US$ 24 million/year
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ANYTHING PALMEIRAS 
It makes me dream deeply, seeing how far we got. We’re in top 10 man, wow! It’s unbelievable to see from a Brazilian club.
If things keep getting bigger and bigger like this, we’re going to be an european-like club in South America, economically saying, but, will the next administrators follow these strategies of success and do things right? That’s the thing. In Brazil, usually, there’s no a culture of continuing jobs done by others; things need to be imediate and changes are made without thinking.
I hope so much we don’t allow bad people getting into high positions inside Palmeiras, the show must go on.