Barcelona, the Spanish and European champions, have confirmed a major sponsorship deal with Turkey's national carrier, Turkish Airlines, which could also sponsor Manchester United.

The deal, originally brokered in December, will see the airline pay a reported €3 million per season for the next three years to be Barcelona's national airline. THY joins the likes of La Caixa Bank, Estrella Damm, Nike and Audi as a sponsor of the club, which donates its shirt sponsorship space to Unicef but still commands commercial revenues of more than €100 million per year.

Media reports in Turkey also claim that the airline is pursuing a similar sponsorship of Manchester United, the Premier League champions. The Old Trafford club, featuring such star names as Wayne Rooney, were runners-up to Barcelona in last season's Champions League, having won the 2008 edition of the competition.

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The deal would come at a good time for Manchester United's owners, the Glazer family, who have faced fierce media criticism in recent weeks for their handling of the club's debts. Manchester United have agreed a number of lucrative commercial deals in recent months with the likes of Globacom, as well as signing a record shirt sponsorship deal with AIG last year. Sir Alex Ferguson's team have won the last three Premier League titles.