Barcelona new deal with Nike: tradition and quality

Nike will still dressing Barcelona’s players. It’s how the general meeting of shareholders voted, with 584 in favor out of 604. The details: the technical sponsor will pay to the Catalan club 150 million per season for 10 years, starting with the 2018-2019 season. Together since 1998, the marriage between Nike and Barça have contributed (along with the successes on the field) to build a strong identity, recognizable, iconic. Of course, everything is easier when you have people in the team as Figo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, or as Puyol, Xavi, Messi. Unforgettable champions thanks to their class, made even bigger by the shirt worn during their epic deeds.

The camiseta Blaugrana as a second skin, as a lifestyle. So symbolic that many fans have wanted to pay tribute, as the Mexican illustrator Ricardo Martin Weigend that on his Instagram profile  has created two GIF composed of all jerseys (home / away) that Nike has produced for Barcelona since 1998.

Impossible not to enjoy choosing the best 5:

 

#1 1998-99 

Dark blue collar and sleeves to frame the blaugrana in the chest, with symbols in the center and details in gold. The commemorative jersey of the (mes que un) club is the best summary of the excellent teamwork: Rivaldo won the Balon D'or, Nike gives to Barça a legendary uniform.

 

#2 2000-01

 
Central crest and wide stripes, with the detail of a darker shade of blue for the shorts, never again revived by Nike.

 

#3 Away 2001-02

 

Between all of the notoriously extravagant away jerseys (from yellow-colored highlighter to the human skin, through the fiery orange to this year’s purple), this is definitely incomparable. The combination of blue and gold is superfine, the central stripe pure elegance.

 
#4 2008-09

Innovative and essential, in 2008 Nike reprises the absence of vertical stripes in favour of a simple division in half between the colors. Clear homage to the split of the centenary (see shortly) very well managed, enhanced by the treble of Pep Guardiola’s first amazing year as coach.

 

#5 2016-17

Recently presented, it hasn’t the depth of the story for obvious reasons but manages to intercept a certain spirit citationist (the stripes veined by grooves of different shades the most rewarding detail) while maintaining a modern line.