Nike emerge as key to Sneijder transfer

Rome: Sportswear giants Nike have emerged as key to Wesley Sneijder completing a £ 35.2 million move to Manchester United.

The US-based firm sponsor Sneijder and supply the Premier League champions' kit and could be ready to step in and pay a percentage of the Dutchman's wages to ensure the club record transfer goes through.

Nike did the same when Brazilian striker Ronaldo made his move from Barcelona to Inter while their commercial rivals Adidas, who sponsor Real Madrid, were heavily involved in smoothing through the transfers of Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham to the Bernabeu.

United have been trying to secure a deal for Sneijder this week, with chief executive David Gill staying behind from the club's pre-season tour of the US to hold talks with senior Inter officials in Milan.

Goal.com understands that United have indicated they will meet Inter's £ 35.2m asking price but negotiations have stalled over personal demands. The player's camp have indicated they want around £ 200,000 a week but United are reluctant to pay more than £ 170,000 a week.

Although Sir Alex Ferguson declared on Thursday that "there's no interest in Wesley Sneijder at this moment in time for a lot of reasons", sources have said that the deal is still very much alive.

The 27-year-old wants to move to Old Trafford and Ferguson regards the player as the final piece in his summer transfer jigsaw, while new Inter manager Gian Piero Gasperini views Sneijder as expendable as he prepares to field a new 3-4-3 formation next season.

Just do it | Nike could help solve the problem of Sneijder's wages

United have lost Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Owen Hargreaves, Edwin van der Sar, Wes Brown and John O'Shea from their wage bill but have replaced them with David de Gea, Ashley Young and Phil Jones, and with annual interest payments of £ 45m per year to meet debt repayments they do not possess the funds of neighbours Manchester City or Chelsea.

Nevertheless, senior Nike officials are keen for Sneijder to move to Old Trafford because United's global brand and reach in markets such as the Far East and Latin America far outweighs that of Inter, who are also sponsored by the commerical giant, and they can help enhance the exposure of the Holland international.

It is increasingly common for major sponsors to play instrumental roles in mega-money transfers of marquee players.

A source close to the negotiations told Goal.com: "If Nike wants you to move then you will move. Nike wants Sneijder to Manchester United because it is easier for them to use him as a commercial icon.

"If United will only pay the same salary as Rooney and there is a gap between what they can offer and what the player wants, then Nike will pay the gap. It was the same with Adidas when they bought Cristiano Ronaldo and Beckham. When top players go to Real Madrid, Adidas are always involved in things financially."

Coincidentally, Nike have opened talks with United over a new kit deal to replace the current £ 23.5m-a-year package, which has been dwarfed by those recently signed by the French national team and Barcelona.