Real Madrid removed cross from top of crest to sell more shirts in Middle East, according to reports in Spain
Champions League holders' merchandising partner, Marka, will redistribute jerseys across Middle East
REAL MADRID have taken the cross off the top of their crest to increase shirt sales in the Middle East.
The Champions League holders signed a merchandising deal with United Arab Emirates retail distribution company, Marka.
They will oversee sales in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
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And El Confidencial report the company's vice-president, Khaled al-Mheiri, explained: "We need to be mindful around certain areas in the Gulf.
"There is a certain sensitivity towards products which have a cross."
The region's inhabitants are predominantly Muslim, and it will mean a small alteration to the famous club's crest.
Currently, the M, C and F — which stand for Madrid Club Futbol — are enclosed around a golden circle with a crown on top of it.
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And at its tip sits a tiny crown.
However, that will be removed in the Gulf regions
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Real Madrid have precedent, however, and this isn't the first time they have removed it from their crest.
In 2014, they made similar deal with the national bank of Abu Dhabi and made the same move.
Real Madrid are regarded as the biggest club in the world and have a large fan-base in every part of the globe.