Emirates in 60 million euro Milan shirt deal

Dubai government-owned airline Emirates said it had signed a four-year 60 million euro shirt sponsorship deal with Milan.

The Arab world's largest airline, which also sponsors English club Arsenal's stadium in London, will replace Austrian online betting group bwin as Milan's shirt sponsor from July, it said today.

Emirates previously sponsored Milan in 2007. It already sponsors Paris Saint Germain and Hamburg SV, while in 2004 Emirates and Arsenal signed the biggest club sponsorship in English football.

The deal does not include the sale of a stake in the club as some media outlets had previously reported, a source told Reuters on Monday.

Milan, third in Serie A after an inconsistent first half of the season, have often been linked in the media with Arab investors but owner Silvio Berlusconi has denied he wants to sell.