Atlético sign the Strategic Partnership with Raja Club Athletic of Casablanca

Club Atlético de Madrid signed the International Collaborative Strategic Alliance with Raja Club Athletic of Casablanca in an act that took place before the two inaugural games at the New Stadium in Tangiers, where Ittihad Riadha will play their home games, were played.

The President, Enrique Cerezo, and the Managing Director, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, led the ‘rojiblanco’ delegation. Morocco was represented by the Prime Minister, Abbas el Fassi, The Minister of Youth and Sport, Moncef Belkhayat, the ‘Wali’ (President of the Community) of Tangiers, Mohamed Hassad, the Mayor of Tangiers, Fouad Omari, and the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Alí Fassi Fihri. Additionally, there was diplomatic representation for Spain, with the Spanish General Consul in Morocco, José María de Carvajal, in attendance. On behalf of the team from Casablanca were the President of Raja Club Athletic, Mahmed Aouzal, and the President of the Raja Club Athletic Football Section Committee, Abdessalem Hannat, amongst other executives.

Enrique Cerezo took the microphone to toast to the Partnership that had just been signed with the current leader of the Moroccan League, Raja. “Good afternoon and thank you very much for attending this event in which we have signed our strategic partnership with Raja Athletic Club. To begin, I’d like to thank the Minister of Youth and Sports for acting as our host and having opened the doors to Tangiers to us in order to present our agreement with Raja Casablanca, inviting us to participate in a historic day for this city, on which we are going to present their New Stadium. Destiny has also led us to taking part in this special event on an important day for us, as today Club Atlético de Madrid turns 108 years-old, which makes this April 26 and even more meaningful date for both organizations and which will undoubtedly constitute a beautiful bond for the future.”

The President highlighted that “our deal with Raja Casablanca is the first link between Atlético de Madrid and an African team, so Raja has the honor of being the first representative from this continent in our International Alliance. We know that we have linked up with a team with a great history and trophy case, and also the most successful one internationally, as they were the first African club to play in the FIFA Club World Cup in Brazil in 2000.”

Enrique Cerezo emphasized an important bond between Atlético de Madrid and Raja: their supporters. “But if there’s one aspect that has to be highlighted, apart from athletic success, is the certainty that we’ve become bonded with a Club that shares one of our main values and assets: the fans. Raja is a club which is recognized for its social masses and the great passion with which all of their fans follow the team, putting their faith in their team’s colors on display. Our supporters, unique and unconditional, are our main source of pride, and we know that Raja shares this sentiment with us.”

One of the goals of the ‘rojiblanco’ club is to continue to increase its fan base around the world. “Morocco is also a country that follows the Spanish League closely, so we hope that through this agreement we can broaden our fan base in our neighboring country, and that the number of ‘rojiblanco’ supporters in this land grows and grows. Starting today, there are now 5 teams which form part of our International Alliance and we will work together with the goal of strengthening the bond that joins us and turning it into a strategic tool to become stronger and more competitive, taking advantage of all the synergies derived from this union, to grow in the athletic, economic and cultural spheres.

"Through these agreements, we’ve shown that football is a unique tool to bring cultures closer together and to tighten bonds between towns and people, and that Atlético de Madrid is ready and willing to undertake all actions necessary to lead us there through sport. As I’ve said on other occasions, the nice thing about his partnership is that now we don’t just play in one league, but in all of the leagues of our allied teams. For this reason, today Atlético de Madrid doesn’t just play in the Spanish League, but in the Chinese, Thai, Arab Emirates and now Moroccan Leagues, and we therefore hope that Raja, who is the current leader, can be proclaimed champion very soon,” he finished.

Afterwards, a promotional video put together by Club Atlético de Madrid, reviewing its 108 years of history in images and reflecting the current states of the organization, as well as the strategic partnerships that it has signed with clubs in China, Thailand, the Arab Emirates and now Morocco, was shown.

The President of Raja Club Athletic, Mahmed Aouzal, was in charge of corroborating the words of the ‘rojiblanco’ President. “We’re going to present this Strategic Partnership with Atlético de Madrid, a singular agreement which is the first one that involves a Moroccan team and a foreign team. This deal is framed within a collaborative strategy put together by Atlético de Madrid with several teams around the world. 12 teams from the five continents are going to sign up and it will be a collaboration not only in an athletic sense but also regarding cultural, commercial and sponsorship matter. The first fruit of this agreement is the presence of Club Atlético de Madrid at this inauguration of the New Stadium in Tangiers."

Mahmed Aouzal continued by commenting that “this deal has been blessed by the Moroccan Football Federation and the Minister of Youth and Sports. On behalf of all the Raja supporters, we thank you. Furthermore, I’d like to take advantage of the opportunity to congratulate Club Atlético de Madrid on their 108 year anniversary, right on the date on which we sign this agreement.”

Immediately following this, a promotional video made by Raja Club Athletic of Casablanca was shown, in which the attendees could see the first squad training, images of their games and how the fans form a crucial part of the organization.

The Strategic Collaborative Agreement has a series of bilateral agreements in a system of permanent collaboration based on several aspects: strengthening the image of both clubs, both in Spain and in Morocco and Africa ; holding of friendly matches and tours in Spain and Morocco; joint recruitment of sponsoring companies; periodic exchange program of players to fuel the formation of young footballers; periodic exchange of coaches between Madrid and Casablanca; organization of clinics, possibility of Atlético de Madrid exercising a preferential right to acquire players from Raja Club Athletic; and possibility of operating Atlético de Madrid’s merchandising in Africa, amongst other aspects.