With leagues across Europe slowly grinding back into action, the Premier League is set to follow in the not-too distant future. And with training resuming across the country, John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri have all been spotted wearing an unreleased blackout Nike boot.
With squads coming back to the training ground, brands have been keen to catch up on lost time, getting player feedback on the many upcoming projects that they have. We’ve already seen the next generation adidas X getting put through its paces, while PUMA has had some of its lead assets testing out its next launch. And Nike are no different, equipping three of their Manchester City stars in their latest mystery project.
This is not the first time that this boot has been seen on the feet of a pro, with Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi testing them in training what feels like way back in February. But like Mustafi, all three of the City players have been wearing the Phantom VSN previously, with De Bruyne and Stones lacing up the second generation, while Rodri had been sticking with the first. So is this a third generation of that boot? Unlikely, given that the Phantom VSN II only dropped in January. So, attention turns to it either being a new addition in the VNM line, or an entirely new silo altogether.
This is the first sign of a low cut version, as worn by Stones, while De Bruyne and Rodri have opted for a mid cut collar. A subtle Swoosh is visible on the upper, while the fact the laces are left completely exposed together with the different collar options lends weight to this being something we’ve not seen before, with Nike possibly set to shuffle their deck ahead of a new season – whenever that may be.
For now, it'll remain a mystery. Stay tuned for more as Nike gear up for an official launch.
