Nike has marked their 20 years as Barcelona kit supplier by producing this absolutely stunning jersey which has gone on sale today.
The shirt features elements of every one of the club's home shirts from the past two decades and the overall effect is something rather special.
The American sportswear giant did something similar to mark the end of their association with Arsenal a few years ago but this Barca effort trumps that and is destined to become one of most collectible jerseys of the Calatan giants.
The arrival of the Nike swoosh on the Barca kits coincided with one of the greatest periods in the historic club's proud history. During their partnership, Barca have won 10 Spanish league titles, four continental crowns and a host of other silverware.
Even though the team won't wear the jersey for the game, the limited-edition design is already proving popular with fans and the various elements of the shirt will evoke memories of the team’s many successes and the great players that have worn the blue and red stripes.
"This idea really came out of the blue," says Pete Hoppins, Nike Football Apparel Senior Design Director. "We wanted to do something different to celebrate the 20th anniversary. The main challenge was ensuring all the previous shirts were represented, but also that each one was carefully placed. We had to be mindful of the overall design, rather than just placing each one anywhere on the garment."
Barcelona’s 2018-19 season kit is inspired by their special relationship with the people they represent and features 10 vertical stripes on the shirt — one for each of the main districts of the city.
“FC Barcelona is the biggest club in the world and we are extremely proud to have been working with them for 20 years," says Hoppins. "The history, reach and global fan base makes it a special club to collaborate with and we consider it an honor."
Keep your eyes out, we'll be giving one away very soon...
#FCBarcelona
