FC Barcelona unveil new Nike home kit for 2016 / 2017 season
FC Barcelona have unveiled their home jersey for the upcoming 2016 / 2017 season on Instagram and Daily Motion with Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Neymar.
The Catalans have been in a bit of a bubble recently with Qatar Airways pulling out as their shirt sponsor and with Nike pushing Barcelona to release the jersey in time for pre-season and global shipping, the club have decided to release the new kit without a shirt sponsor.
With a small video on Instagram, the club revealed that they've based the design on one of their retro designs that won them the European Cup. "Colors to make history. A jersey to celebrate it. Introducing the new kit inspired by the 91/92 season, when FCB Barcelona conquered their first European Cup 25 years ago," read the description on the social media portal.
Coming to the kit itself, the Catalans have reverted to stripes after experimenting with hoops last season. This time, however, much like their retro design, the stripes are thick and only five are needed to cover the front torso of a player with three blue ones and two red ones in between.
Nike – who just signed a 10-year deal with the club paying a staggering €100m-a-year – have kept things simple with no messing around with the sleeves and the collar. For the shirt sponsor, Barcelona have reportedly spoken to the likes of Pepsi and more but have repeatedly been rebuffed with their demands often exceeding the offer.
The jersey is sported by Neymar in the short video which, to some degree, clarifies Barcelona's stand on the Brazilian. With reported offers from Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain on the table, the former Santos man's future has been shrouded in doubt with neither party – him and the club – throwing light on the situation.
For now, revel in Barcelona's new jersey with this small video: