Remember a few months ago when we called out Liam Gallagher for liking Hajduk’s badge a bit too much in his Pretty Green spring collection? Well, this time, we have another case of imitation, but from some of the greatest football giants in the world – Barcelona and Croatia.
Namely, the Spanish football champion launched their new 2019/20 kits for sale on Tuesday, which looks awfully similar to those of the 2018 World Cup finalists – the Croatia national team, reports Gol.hr on June 3, 2019.
? Presenting the 2019/2020 kit
?? All the details
➡ https://t.co/KhCpRra4Pc
? On sale from Tuesday, June 4!— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 3, 2019
For the new shirts Messi & Co. will be wearing from July, Barcelona will stray away from its 120-year-history of the traditional blue and red stripes for the first time. And it might have something to do with the Croatia Football Federation and Barcelona boasting the same American sports equipment manufacturer as their sponsor – Nike.
The club claims that the new jersey design pattern was not inspired by Croatia, who won the silver medal at the World Cup in Russia a year ago and whose checks have been recognized since 1990 and the independence of the country.
“The new design is inspired by the city of Barcelona, or the characteristic blocks of the Eixample district, which is home to some of the most recognizable buildings designed by the great architect, Antoni Gaudi,” said Barcelona in a press release on Monday.
Eixample is the center of Barcelona, built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, consisting of a group of buildings merged into squares. The area also features the famous church Sagrada Familia.
Since its founding in 1899, Barcelona has donned stripes on its shirts and ended this season with this traditional design.
“The Barcelona jersey for the 2019/2020 season will replace the traditional blue and red stripes for the first time in its history,” the club said in Catalonia, confirming earlier speculation about this drastic change.
“This new home jersey will be released in public on June 4 (Tuesday) in all Barcelona stores and customary sales outlets around the world,” the press release said.
Croatian football player Ivan Rakitić, who is contracted with Barcelona until the summer of 2021, should play in the new jerseys this summer. The front of the shirt will continue to feature the name of the Japanese sponsor in white.
Barcelona will travel to Japan with their new kits in July where they will play a tournament against Premier League club Chelsea and Japanese club Vissel Kobe, where former Barcelona players Andres Iniesta and David Villa play.
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