Barcelona to wear controversial white kit for first time in 44 years vs Arsenal
Barcelona will wear a white shirt for the first time since 1979 in a pre-season friendly against Arsenal in the US.
The white shirt is part of their new away kit, which was unveiled on Wednesday, and Barcelona say it "pays tribute" to legendary former player and manager Johan Cruyff. "Based on the second kit worn by the club during the 1970s, the jersey is predominantly white, featuring red and blue stripes on the sleeves," they said in a statement.
"The pioneering figure of Cruyff has provided the inspiration for this kit. Players like [Paulino] Alcantara, [Josep] Samitier, Cesar [Rodriguez] and [Laszlo] Kubala, among others, also wore a white jersey with the club between the 1920s and 1970s."
However, it is a controversial move and Barcelona have previously avoided white kits due to the colour's strong association with rivals Real Madrid. As a result, Barcelona have not worn a white shirt in 44 years, with the last instance coming back in 1979 when they face Ipswich in Cup Winner's Cup match.
In 2019, Barcelona chiefs are said to have rejected a proposal from Nike to wear a white shirt as part of their away kit for the 2020-21 season amid fears of a fan backlash. However, the club has now changed tact and president Joan Laporta explained their decision in an interview with Mundo Deportivo.
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"It's not all white," he said. "It has some blue and red detail on the sleeve and it's in memory of one of the first shirts Cruyff wore at the club. The commercial brands have studied this very carefully.
"When we came back to the club it had already been decided and we believe that a colour should not be the heritage of anyone. In any case, it is a 'Barca White' colour." Laporta also rejected claims the decision is an attempt to provoke Real Madrid.
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"That's not the intention," he insisted. "It's an idea, a more commercial theme because we've had shirts of all colours and the colours are sold out. I remember that there was a moment when we put on red shorts in my first stage as president and I remember that the managers told me that it would be disruptive and it was fine.
"In this white thing you can understand all the reactions but the official shirt will always be the blaugrana and the white one is for cases in which it is not compatible with the opposition, on television."
Barcelona won the La Liga title last season and have been active in the transfer market this summer as they look to retain it next season. Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez have both joined on free transfers, while academy graduate and former Chelsea and Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu has rejoined Barcelona from Girona.
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