An Italian football club that was on the verge of financial ruin receives support from rap star Drake.
APEX Capital, which acquired a minority stake in Venezia FC along with Drake in July, posted on Instagram on Monday that the rapper’s sub-brand with Nike – NOCTA – would become the official jersey sponsor.
Although Venezia was at the top of Italy’s second division, Serie B, in the 2023/24 season, it was on the verge of bankruptcy.
According to GQ Italia, after a desperate phone call with the Canadian rap star’s chief brand officer and two weeks of negotiations, a deal was struck that keeps the team afloat.
Not long after, the Venice-based team – which also includes American players Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann – completed a near-miraculous playoff run and gained promotion back to Italy’s top soccer league, Serie A.
Venezia will now enter the 2024–25 season alongside teams such as Juventus, Inter and AC Milan and will play in Serie A wearing the fresh kit of a celebrity known for his eclectic fashion sense.
The new jerseys have not been released yet, but are expected to be available in September, according to ESPN.
Until then, Venezia will continue to wear unbranded, team-made jerseys at the start of the season, as the contract with previous jersey manufacturer Kappa has already been terminated.
