Former Nike tennis director Mike Nakajima found it excruciating to see Roger Federer and Nike end their partnership in 2018. In 2018, Federer and Nike could not agree on a new contract, then the Swiss tennis icon accepted a 10-year contract offered by Uniqlo.
According to some reports, Federer was being paid $10m a year by Nike, but Uniqlo jumped at the chance and offered the Swiss $30m a year. “This should never have happened.
For us, letting someone go like that is an atrocity. Roger Federer was to stay at Nike for the rest of his career. Just like Michael Jordan. Like LeBron James, like Tiger Woods. He is one of the greatest Nike athletes of all time.
I am always disappointed. But it happened. I have to get over it. It wasn’t my decision and I wasn’t there for it,” Nakajima told CNN’s Simon Cambers and Simon Graf.
Nakajima : Federer got away with it..
If Nakajima was in Federer’s place, he says he probably would have done the same and agreed to a contract that paid him an extra $20 million a year.
But the thing is, Nakajima thinks Nike should never have allowed that to happen. “I’m sure everything works out for a reason. Roger will pull through. So I’m happy for him. I probably would have done the same if I was in the same boat.
Who could have refused a contract of 30 million dollars a year? But it should never have come to this. Nike still sells millions and millions of pairs of Jordans. When was the last time Michael played? It’s been many, many years.
They could have done the same for Roger. For years to come, they could have made shoes with an RF logo“Nakajima said. Federer used his astonishing success to build a very strong brand.
Even though Roger Federer didn’t take part in any tournaments last year, according to Forbesthe Swiss tennis icon has earned approximately $90 million through sponsorship and endorsement deals.
In November, Federer traveled to Tokyo to take part in a Uniqlo event. When Uniqlo signed a 10-year contract with Federer in 2018, they were well aware that the Swiss would be well retired when his contract expired.
