Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus has provided a first look at a next-generation adidas project that'll be tasked with leading the brand into a World Cup year. An apparent laceless advancement that's Russia ready, it's the second preview from the Three Stripes of what's to come in 2018.
We've already seen numerous high-profile adidas contracted players training in blacked-out editions of a new silhouette, Dele Alli being the most recent player, but the boots that Jesus is wearing in training this week appear to be a totally different silo as adidas show more of their 2018 hand.
The Brazilian striker has been wearing the adidas X 17 series this season, which would naturally indicate that the black-out design he's wearing here is the next installation of X 18. Streamline with a cleaner upper in comparison to other adidas blackout doing the rounds (below) Jesus' silhouette packs a speed vibe with a locked in fit and extended collar on an upper that looks far thinner than the current X 17, almost more Nemeziz-like than X. Lace or no lace? What is apparent is that if there are laces on Jesus' boots, then adidas have dramatically improved the lace-cover.
Above: Dele Alli wears an alternative next-generation adidas silhouette to Gabriel Jesus, a boot with more visible control elements on the instep. At the moment adidas are driving down the road to Russia under the cover of darkness, but as we approach 2018 the lights will turn on and reveal one highly anticipated World Cup squad.
