Leaked Barcelona third kit for 2017/18 matches major sponsor Rakuten's Japanese baseball team and an Italian giant
Barcelona's design for their third kit for next season has been 'leaked' - and the colour is a dark red. Media in Spain are already speculating that new sponsor Rakuten is behind it.
After Gerard Pique got negotiations with the Japanese firm underway back in 2015 by organising a dinner for Hiroshi Mikitani, the CEO of Rakuten, and Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, a deal was eventually reached for one of the biggest shirt sponsorships in world football.
Worth £47m a year and stretching from 2017-18 until the end of the 2021-2022 season, Barcelona will earn at least £188m and more if they win certain trophies, with an emphasis on the Champions League.
In return, Rakuten become the club's main sponsor and not only get to have their brand name printed across the chests of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez and Co, but it seems the influence may go further too.
In Japan, Rakuten have a baseball team called the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, who wear a similar colour shirt to Barcelona's apparent new third kit.
Barcelona's new first kit for next season was recently revealed too, with a minor twist on the classic red and blue seeing the width of the stripes varied.
This would not be the first time outside influences have affected kit colours, with Cardiff City famously turning from blue to red in 2012, with controversial owner Vincent Tan believing the new colour would bring the team luck, much to the chagrin of supporters.
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