NIKE have released a THIRD new ball for the Premier League season – weighing in at a whopping £118.
Named the Tunnel Vision Merlin, it will first be used on February 22 when Chelsea take on Tottenham.
Nike say the new ball features an image of the trophy to ‘remind each team of the ultimate end-of-season goal’Credit: Nike
Following the original ball released for the start of the season and its ‘Hi-Vis’ winter variant, fans eager to keep up to date with the latest equipment used in the Prem are facing forking out once again.
Supporters can snap up the official replica, coloured in white, black and ‘hyper crimson’, for £118.
And the soon-to-be out of date balls from earlier in 2019/20 will still set you back around £90.
Nike state the ball is “engineered to provide an accurate and stable flight by helping ensure a steady flow of air across the ball no matter what speed it is moving at”.
It is also said to “highlight the balance of clarity and disorder with bright orange circles amid a flurry of graphics [that] underscores players’ ability to focus on one task while ignoring everything else”.
But many have been left asking exactly why this ball is necessary for the final months of the campaign.
The cost of staying in tune with the English game, which calls itself both the “best” and “richest” league in the world, is ever rising.
Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester City charged a chunky £65 for their new shirts at the start of the season, with Chelsea and Manchester United only pennies behind.
The cheapest going was Burnley’s at £45.
A number of supporters online questioned Nike and the Premier League’s motives in bringing out a third ball so late in the campaign.
Twitter user Tom simply asked: “Why?”
Ross dubbed it a: “Sports direct ball.”
The circles on the ball are not orange, they are ‘hyper crimson’Credit: Nike
Astrid tweeted: “It’s ugly.”
Harpz added: “Red on the ball for Liverpool, nice touch.”
However another claimed it was: “A thing of beauty, despite the name!”
Chelsea face Man United as the two sides look to secure Champions League football
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
