Federer 'atrocity' that 'should've never happened'

1 year ago 79

Nike should ne'er person fto tennis superstar Roger Federer permission its stable, according to 1 of the company's erstwhile apical brass.

The Swiss maestro was signed by the renowned sportswear institution arsenic a 13-year-old and remained connected the books for 24 years.

But successful 2018 helium was lured distant by a mouthwatering connection from Uniqlo, the Japanese institution tabling a 10-year woody worthy $300 million.

Mike Nakajima - who was Nike's tennis manager earlier leaving the institution successful 2017 - says helium wouldn't person fto Federer permission if helium was inactive there.

"That should ne'er person happened. For america to fto idiosyncratic similar that go, it's an atrocity," Nakajima is quoted successful a publication titled, The Roger Federer Effect.

"Roger Federer belonged with Nike for the remainder of his career. Just similar Michael Jordan. Like LeBron James, similar Tiger Woods.

"He's close up determination with the all-time top Nike athletes ever. I'm inactive disappointed.

"But it happened. I person to get implicit it. It wasn't my determination and I wasn't determination for it."

Nike failed to lucifer the monster $30m-a-year disconnected from Uniqlo and so, reluctantly, watched Federer locomotion retired the door.

But Nakajima believes Nike could person kept the Federer wealth bid moving for galore years aft the star's status from tennis, which came past year.

"Roger is going to beryllium fine. So I'm blessed for him. I astir apt would person done the aforesaid happening if I were successful the aforesaid boat," Nakajima said.

"Who mightiness person turned down a $30 million-a-year contract? But it should person ne'er gotten to that point.

"Nike is inactive selling millions and millions of pairs of Jordans (shoes). When's the past clip Michael (Jordan) played? It's been many, galore years.

"They could person done the aforesaid happening for Roger. For years to come, they could person created shoes with an RF logo."

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