Players are rolling in for pre-season across Europe, and they’re bringing with them a wealth of new releases, custom creations, throwback classics and special editions for this week’s Boot Spotting. Stop pretending to like cricket and tennis. We're nearly there. Let’s go…
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) Nike Mercurial Superfly CR7 Shuai
Cristiano Ronaldo has resumed his signature Mercurial line this week with the unveiling of the 'Shuai', which celebrates CR7's special relationship with China. No sooner was it unveiled than Ronaldo was donning them as he met up with his Juventus teammates.
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) adidas X 19.1
Real Madrid's pre-season training is well underway, and the Three Stripes contingent were booted up in the next on-pitch pack, the brand's first of the 2019/20 season. Leading the way was Karim Benzema in the new design for the X 19.1.
Isco (Real Madrid) adidas Nemeziz 19+
Benzema was joined in a later training session by the returning Isco, who officially became an adidas athlete at the end of last season. It appears that he'll be wearing the Nemeziz 19+ in the upcoming season, which takes on a bright pink look as part of the new collection.
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) adidas Predator 19+
Arsenal have headed to America for their pre-season training, and while Mesut Ozil has been seen wearing his classic gold 'Zidane' 25 year Predators, he has also been giving the next Predator, which takes on a bright blue colourway, a run out.
Wilmar Barrios (Zenit St Petersburg) adidas COPA 19.1
Completing the new pack line up, the COPA 19.1 was spotted on the feet of Zenit defensive midfielder Wilmar Barrios. The brightest of the bunch, the upcoming COPA boasts a luminous yellow wrap combined with black accents.
Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona) PUMA Future 4.1
New club, new boot for Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman has joined his new teammates for pre-season training, and he's done so in the PUMA Future 4.1 from the recently released 'Anthem Pack', which was inspired by the playlists players listen to ahead of games.
Leroy Sane (Manchester City) Nike Mercurial Superfly VII
Nike launched the new Mercurial Superfly 7 and Vapor 13 on their 'Nike By You' customisation platform last week. Manchester City's Leroy Sane is one of the first to take advantage of it, with his own choice of colourways and personalisation details.
Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla) adidas F50 adizero
Lucas Ocampos has dipped into the archive to pull out the gold Leo Messi adidas F50 adizero variant from 2010. Messi was originally given the boot by adidas to celebrate his second Ballon d'Or success, and compatriot Ocampos obviously felt pre-season needed something of a pick up when he donned them for a friendly against Reading.
Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough) Pantofola d'Oro Superleggera
Adding a touch of class to pre-season proceedings, Middlesbrough midfielder Jonny Howson played against Hartlepool in the premium, Italian-crafted Pantofola d'Oro Superleggera. Bellissimo.
Aden Flint (Middlesbrough) Nike Tiempo Legend VIII
The Tiempo finally got an upgrade recently with the release of the Legend VIII, which launched in two colourways. Middlesbrough's Aden Flint opted for the pristine 'Nouveau' edition, which features a shimmering Swoosh on a fresh feeling white upper.
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) Nike Tiempo Legend VIII
The second launch colourway of the Tiempo Legend VIII came as part of the 'Under the Radar' pack, providing a darker alternative to the clean 'Nouveau' release. Raphael Varane opted for this design, which is more likely to feature on the feet of the pros during pre-season and beyond.
Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona) Nike Mercurial Vapor X
With the arrival of Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele's got some competition in the Barcelona front line and he's out to make an impression in pre-season from the off, turning out in the Nike Mercurial Vapor X, which originally dropped back in 2014.
