Manchester United Adidas kit to go on sale at midnight
Long-awaited new strip will finally hit the stores as Nike contract expires at end of July
Manchester United's new Adidas kit will finally go on sale this weekend, despite being leaked earlier this month and spotted on the rails at a US sports shop a week ago. Sports stores will open at midnight in Manchester, and London, to allow fans to get their hands on the new tops.
The deal with Adidas is worth a staggering £750m over ten years, but despite the magnitude of the deal the kit launch will be low key, with the first team donning the tops for the first time against Spurs on the opening day of the season.
Unlike other clubs who have been showing off their new strips in pre-season, United played their US tour matches in last season's Nike kit as their 13-year association with the American sports manufacturer does not officially end until the end of July.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Manager Louis van Gaal also rejeted requests for a high-profile friendly at Old Trafford next week so he could concentrate on preparing his squad for the Premier League season.
The lack of fanfare has also been compounded by the fact that fans already know what the tops will look like. When the designs leaked, images were posted on social media site Reddit and quickly went viral, reports the Manchester Evening News, even though Adidas has not officially revealed the designs.
GoodGuyManu / Reddit
"Reminiscent of the home strip worn by the team during the 1980s, the shirt features a classic V-neck collar and white bands on the sleeves," says the Daily Mail.
And whether the fans like it or not, it will earn United a lot of money. "Last year, United made £37.5m from merchandise. In the first year of the new deal they will rake in £75m from Adidas," notes the paper.
The deal dwarfs those of United's rivals. The likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have deals worth just £30m a year.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Her Lotus Year: Paul French's new biography sets lurid rumours straight
The Week Recommends Wallis Simpson's year in China is less scandalous, but 'more interesting' than previously thought
By The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - November 21, 2024
Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - wild cards, wild turkeys, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Say Nothing: 'sensational' dramatisation of Patrick Radden Keefe's bestselling book
The Week Recommends The series is a 'powerful reminder' of the Troubles
By The Week UK Published
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
The England kit: a furore over the flag
Why everyone's talking about Nike's redesign of the St George's Cross on the collar of the English national team's shirt has caused controversy
By The Week UK Published
-
The super-shoes behind the race to break the two-hour marathon
The Explainer A race between major sports manufacturers has seen marathon times get increasingly faster
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?
Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
By Jamie Timson Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man Utd win the Carabao Cup: how Erik ten Hag has ‘transformed’ the Red Devils
feature United lifted their first silverware since 2017 after beating Newcastle at Wembley
By Mike Starling Published
-
Jim Ratcliffe: petrochemical billionaire turned Man Utd bidder
Why Everyone’s Talking About The Ineos owner is the first to publicly bid for the 13-time Premier League winners
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Reactions to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘explosive’ interview with Piers Morgan
feature Portugal captain feels ‘betrayed’ by Man Utd and believes he’s being forced out of the club
By Mike Starling Published