Real Madrid – represented by Iker Casillas, James Rodríguez, Xabi Alonso, Marcelo and Gareth Bale – presented their third kits for this season on Tuesday. This shirt was designed by Yohji Yamamoto, and features two entwined dragons on the front, plus the designer’s signature on the inside of the collar.
I saw the shirt up close at my local Adidas store yesterday, and I have to say, I’m not the biggest fan. I think it’s a bit jarring. But I will admit it’s different and relatively original, but I don’t see what dragons have to do with Real Madrid (it kind of makes sense if the Spanish press is right and this was made to capture the Asian market). As my madridista friend pointed out, it’s Barcelona that has a connection with dragons, as the patron saint of the city is Sant Jordi (Saint George). (He also said, “I love it, it’s so tacky.”)
Besides, from a short distance away, it reminds me of this.
Marcelo’s Vicks VapoRub mess. It’s really hard to make out what’s on the shirt from a short distance away.
I kind of believe some of the players didn’t think much of it either, but of course were forced to say they did. Xabi called it “ground breaking” and “innovative,” which is what you say when you’re trying to tactfully describe something you don’t think much of (it’s like how magazines like ¡Hola! always say an outfit is “original” if they don’t have anything good to say about it). It was cute, though, when Marcelo said that the shirt goes well with his tattoos.
Meanwhile, Gareth, Marcelo and James modeled the new “F50 Adidas Adizero Yamamoto Football Boot,” which features – of course – dragons. And in different colors too. Naturally, Xabi Alonso was NOT wearing them.
And Iker will be wearing orange, meaning that the carrot is back. That got me thinking, and this was the result.
FYI: there are surprisingly few pictures of single carrots floating around on the Internet.
P.S. I do love the pink shirt though.