(IN THE PHOTO: Coach Seedorf, Massimo Signor and Franco Baresi)
MILANO - A partnership between Fujitsu and AC Milan was agreed earlier today at Milanello.To mark this new collaboration, Milan’s representative Franco Baresi had the following to say: "I’m happy to be here with you. Milan is very well known in Japan and we have a bond with Japan after some historic moments in the country. This collaboration with Fujitsu will strengthen our positive image in Japan as well as benefiting Fujitsu’s market presence. We were in Japan recently with the Milan Glorie and we were able to sense the level of enthusiasm for the club. I remember the first time that we went to Tokyo in Japan in 1989 for the Intercontinental Cup. We didn’t quite realise what we were experiencing and the impact that we would have. Milan represents football’s elite, perfect for a partnership with the top brands.”Milan's head of sales, Mauro Tavola, had this to say: "Milan is an international brand and is ambitious to grow. The Japanese market is very important. After the arrival of Honda, it’s not simply by chance that a Japanese company is about to begin a partnership with us at the club. There is great compatibility between Milan and Fujitsu, in terms of our colours and success. We’ve agreed, thanks also to our partnership with Infront, a collaboration that will last 3 years. We have lots of initiatives in mind in addition to putting the two brands together. Milan is a world-wide brand and the fame and popularity of our players across the globe helps with our entrance into new markets and finding new sources of revenue through sponsorship.” These were the comments from managing director of Tata Fujitsu Massimo Signor: "In recent years Fujitsu, as a world-wide brand, has paid great attention to the Italian market. It became easy to choose Milan as our partner because of its history and for its visibility on an international scale. In terms of air conditioners, the Japanse brands are the top of the range. Fujitsu in particular is known for its quality and the lack of noise that is generated from its products. We have high expectations from this agreement. The length is for three years which will allow us to concentrate on our target market and let’s hope that this early agreement will lead to a lengthy and lasting partnership. Through football we want to reach our customers. In terms of success and visibility, Milan is the number one brand in Italy and that’s why we have chosen them for this new adventure.”