BARCELONA have confirmed their home kit for 2020/21 with fans joking that the new design borrows heavily from Crystal Palace.
The famous Blaugrana stripes of the Camp Nou club are back with golden trim that the Selhurst Park faithful might feel is a bit familiar.
Lionel Messi helped unveil the new Barcelona kit on Tuesday
Some felt the new kit was more suited to South London than the Mediterranean coastCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique, Frenkie de Jong and Antoine Griezmann modelled the kit from the Barcelona men’s team with Asisat Oshoala and Alexia Putellas donning it from the women’s side.
The Nike design is very similar to the kit leaked earlier in the month, with title sponsor Rakuten returning for the final season of their £51million-a-year deal with the club.
Fans reacting to the kit likened it to the Eagles’ efforts as well as the 2010/11 Barcelona shirt – perhaps as an attempt to keep Messi to the impeccable standards he has shown for the past decade.
Some detractors even remarked that the kit is a sign that the Catalans are preparing for life without their star forward.
One Twitter user joked: “Barcelona preparing for post-Messi period, looking like Spanish Crystal Palace.”
Chris pointed out: “Barcelona out here looking like Crystal Palace.”
And another fan tweeted: “When did Crystal Palace buy Barcelona?”
One unhappy Barcelona supporter wrote online: “This looks awful. Our performance & kits are declining year by year.”
The club will don it’s classic blue-and-red striped shirt with blue shorts next season
Antoine Griezmann helped model the kit despite rumours he could leave in the summer
American manufacturer Nike are behind the design with Rakuten sponsoring for perhaps the last year
A Messi fan account commented: “Hate it. Sack Nike. Dissolve that partnership.”
While another viewer stated: “Barcelona going back to their 2010/11 kit. Perhaps they hope that’ll make Messi 10 years younger.”
Quique Setien’s side are set to miss out on a third-straight LaLiga title with Real Madrid boasting a four-point lead with two games to go.
Financial issues from the coronavirus crisis and a mammoth wage bill could force a huge summer sale at the Camp Nou, with as many as nine first-teamers reportedly leaving.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
