Football Shirt Culture.com

Seria A side Udinese announched a new shirt sponsorship deal with Romanian carmaker Dacia, owned by France’s Renault.

"This contract is an important opportunity for us, expanding the reach of our brand through a very strong league. It is an opportunity to raise the profile of the Dacia brand on the Iatlian market, to make known a young brand that has scored important commercial success," the broadcaster quoted Renault Italia communication director, Andrea Baracco, as saying.

Bought by Renault in 2000 as the future assembly site for its no-frills Logan model that the French carmaker was developing, Dacia has been a major success for Renault since 2004. Although Logan was originally developed as a car for the emerging markets, it has proven successful in Western Europe as well, even if it is far from competing with the leading models in the budget segment.

Udinese currently lie 12th in the Serie A table, collecting only two points from their last eight matches. Their first match with the new shirt sponsor was a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of AC Milan.

The sponsorship, whose financial details have not been disclosed, will also raise Dacia's profile across the continent, with Udinese reaching the first knockout stage of the Uefa Cup, where it will play Polish side Lech.