Barcelona Unveils New ‘Checkerboard’ Kit for 2019–20 Football Season, Leaves Fans Extremely Disappointed! Read Angry Tweets

Defending La Liga champions FC Barcelona officially launched their new home kit for the upcoming 2019-20 season. The checkerboard jersey is a new design using the club’s traditional red and blue colours. The club released the kit on their social media channels but were immediately trolled with fans expressing their disappointment of seeing their beloved club move away from the traditional vertical stripes. Barcelona Takes a Dig at Real Madrid’s Luka Modric for Pulling Lionel Messi’s Jersey.

The kit manufactured by US sportswear Nike is said to have derived its inspiration from the city of Barcelona. “The new design takes its inspiration from the city of Barcelona by incorporating the characteristic blocks of its Eixample district, home to some of the most emblematic buildings designed by the great architect Antoni Gaudí,” said the club in a statement on their official website. The kit also includes the red and yellow stripes of the Catalan flag in the shape of a ‘V’ on its neckline. Earlier the colour of the flag was printed on the back of the jersey. FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 Jerseys With 'Never Say Die' Tag Unveiled by Nike (See Pics).

Barcelona Launches New Home Kit:

According to the statement, the jersey was launched with the tagline “Talent takes different shapes” and is a tribute to the talent and creativity that the football club and Barcelona city have in common. It was also for the first time that a kit launching featured representatives of all the professional sports at Barcelona.

Together With Barcelona?

📍 Barcelona

For the people that move the city forward

Talent takes different shapes pic.twitter.com/3CoyAQifV3

Barcelona’s four captains Lionel Messi, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto represented football at the event. While (Lieke Martens, Alexia Putellas and Vicky Losada represented the women’s football). Barca B footballer Riqui Puig was also present and so was Pierre Oriola (basketball), Víctor Tomàs (handball), Ignacio Alabart (roller hockey) and Ferrão (futsal).  FIFA Confirm Qatar as Hosts For FIFA Club World Cup 2019 and 2020.

But all this was still not sufficient to please the fans, who voiced their discontentment at the modified version of the jersey.

The New Kit Destroyed the Old?

Nothing but Embarrassing:

Taken a Leaf Out of Croatian National Team Jersey:

Another Fan Reminded It Was Originally a Croatian Jersey:

This is Shocking!

But unlike the fans, Barcelona club and Spain legend Gerard Pique praised the new jersey and said he was a fan of the bold design. The kit is something new and exciting,’ said the defender. "It might be different but it is 100-percent Barca and it is even better than the design represents the bond the club has with the supporters and the people who are driving the city forward."

The Catalan giants successfully defended their La Liga title but were knocked out by eventual winners Liverpool in the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 04, 2019 03:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).