REAL MADRID HAS removed the cross from the club crest after signing a three-year deal with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi.
Though he deal was signed in September, images are only emerging now and the seriousness with which Madrid are treating the alliance can be seen in the use of Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Dani Carvajal for the announcement.
However, it is the removal of the cross from the top of the crown – reportedly to avoid causing offence to the bank’s Muslim customers – that has prompted the most reaction with the new design appearing on a credit card that will double as a Real Madrid club membership card.
The old crest, as seen below, will still be used in Europe.
