Gerard Pique Defender and Shakira helped Barcelona to their $59M deal with Rakuten

Beginning from 2017/2018 season, Barcelona’s shirt sponsor will be Rakuten after signing a deal worth $59 million.

Power couple Gerard Pique and Shakira help Barcelona to a$59 million deal with Japanese online retailer Rakuten.

Barcelona on Wednesday, November 16 announced that they have signed a shirt deal with Rakuten to replace their contract with Qatar Airways.

playThe deal between Barcelona and Rakuten is worth $59 per-season (EPA)

Beginning from 2017/2018 season, Barcelona’s shirt sponsor will be Rakuten after signing a deal worth $59 million.

Pique and his partner of six years, Shakira who are friends with the president of Rakuten, helped arranged the deal.

playGerard Pique and his partner, Shakira are friends with president of Rakuten (Twitter/Gerard Pique )

“Pique and his partner Shakira know Rakuten president Hiroshi Mikitani and they had dinner in San Francisco in 2015 when some of the foundations were laid,” Barcelona vice presidentManel Arroyo said.

The couple was present at the celebratory dinner on Wednesday.

playGerard Pique and Shakira (Getty Images)

Pique and Shakira have been dating since 2010 after meeting on the set of Waka Waka-Time for Africa, the pop star’s 2010 FIFA World Cup anthem.

The couple has two sons, two-year-old Milan and 11-month-oldSasha.