Scoring a Nike partnership is a symbol of making it as an athlete. However, it’s somewhat that has turned sour for Odell Beckham Jr. as he is reportedly looking to sue the apparel company.

 

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Beckham Jr. took to Twitter to share a statement revealing Nike allegedly failed to uphold their end of the bargain when he re-signed.

adidas Was Hoping To Sign Beckham Jr.

In addition, adidas was allegedly hoping to snag Beckham Jr. from Nike’s talent roster and offered him a hefty contract, a suit filed by Beckham Jr.’s attorney Daniel Davillier stated, according to TMZ Sports.

To ensure he would remain with their company, Nike allegedly offered to match adidas’ deal. However, Beckham Jr.’s statements suggest there were discrepancies.

Statement From Beckham Jr.

“Being a Nike Athlete and Brand Icon was a dream I’ve had since being a young boy. I wanted to be the next Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, LeBron James or Kobe Bryant in the Nike Family,” the statement posted by Beckham Jr. read. “When Nike exercised its right of first refusal to match the Adidas offer and not only kept me as a Nike Athlete, but also made me one of their Brand Icons – my dream had been fulfilled. Unfortunately, Nike did not honor its commitments. Throughout our partnership, I have kept my promise and fulfilled my obligations to the brand. I am extremely disappointed that I’ve had to take these measures to ensure Nike fulfills their obligations and promises.”

TMZ Sports also revealed that his partnership with Nike became further estranged when he was allegedly shortchanged by more than $2 million around March 2022. The reasons are believed to be associated with footwear and glove violations when he customized his equipment toward the end of last season.

Beckham Jr. Believes He Has Not Violated The Terms Of His Nike Contract

Beckham Jr. claims he did not violate the terms of his contract and his cleats were customized because he says Nike did not provide him with the appropriate colors that would coordinate with the team.

The suit also claims customizing gloves is nothing new for Beckham Jr., as it was never an issue for Nike in the past. The change is to coincide with his “high fashion brand.”

Beckham Jr. also claims Nike put penalties in place to ensure he will sign a deal that is lower in value.

Beckham Jr. Reportedly Lost Over $20M

What’s more, Beckham Jr. allegedly lost more than $20 million from the contract, per TMZ.

“Today, I’m taking a stand not just for me, but to set a precedent for all athletes who have dedicated their life to the sport they love – especially those who don’t have the means to stand up for themselves. We are held responsible for fulfilling our obligations under our contracts, but we also have to hold powerful companies like Nike accountable for honoring their commitments too. I look forward to resolving this issue and hope we can start a real conversation about protecting athletes and their rights. This happens too often in the sports industry and it’s time for change. As this is now a legal matter, please refer any questions to my attorney, Daniel Davillier,” said Beckham Jr. in a statement posted on Twitter.