It’s Monday, which means another dose of Boot Spotting, bringing you the best new releases, throwback classics, special editions and custom creations on pitches from around the globe. You ready? Let’s do this…
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) adidas Predator Mutator Pogba
Season 7 of adidas's Pogba collection launched this week, just in time for the man himself to debut the gold tinged, Louis Vuitton-inspired signature Predators in Manchester United's Premier League opener against Crystal Palace, a match the Red Devils lost 2-1.
Ianis Hagi (Rangers) Nike Mercurial Vapor XIII Tech Craft
Nike dropped the 2020 Tech Craft Pack a couple of weeks back, offering leather versions of the Mercurial Vapor, Phantom GT and Tiempo Legend VIII, all dressed up in homage to the original Tiempo from the 1994 World Cup. Just so happens that that colourway goes particularly well with the new Rangers 3rd shirt, as Ianis Hagi showed in his side's' 2-2 draw with Hibernian.
Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) Nike Mercurial Vapor Flyknit Ultra
Pulling out a touch of class for Arsenal's second game of the season, a 2-1 win over West Ham, Alexandre Lacazette wore the Nike Mercurial Vapor Flyknit Ultra from the "Fire and Ice" pack. Originally released in November 2017, the Vapor Flyknit Ultra is special edition at its finest, and it proved to have the right mojo for Lacazette, with the Frenchman finding the net for the second game in a row.
Samuel Bamba (Borussia Dortmund U19) adidas Nemeziz Messi
Continuing the signature edition theme from Pogba, and 16 year old Samuel Bamba wore the recent adidas Nemeziz Messi in Dortmund U19's 5-0 crushing of SC Preussen Muenster. Scary to think this lad was only one when Messi joined Barca...
Bruma (PSV) Nike Mercurial Vapor XIII Korea
Another special edition treat getting some game time this week was the Mercurial Vapor XIII 'South Korea' boot, on the feet of PSV's winger, Bruma. The eye-catching design on the boots extended the Taeguk Warriors’ outstanding football collection, although it probably didn't get the attention and game time it deserved due to the Pandemic.
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) Nike Phantom GT
Raheem Sterling's boot future still remains uncertain in the build up to City's Premier League opener against Wolves. The England man's Nike contract expired earlier this year, and since he has been seen trialling PUMA and adidas boots, while still playing in Nike. But this week he has been training in the Nike Phantom GT blackout prototype, so it will be interesting to see what he laces up in tonight.
Ederson (Manchester City) PUMA Ultra 1.1
Looks like Man City keeper Ederson could be another player set to switch the Swoosh for the Big Cat, following compatriot Neymar in joining PUMA. Or maybe he was just giving the new Ultra 1.1 a whirl, as he still had his Nike gloves...
Joe Gomez (Liverpool) adidas Predator Mutator
Another player who looks like they may be set to leave Nike is Liverpool's Joe Gomez, who trained this week in the adidas Predator Mutator from the 'Inflight Pack'. An interesting potential switch, especially with Nike having just taken the reigns at the Premier League champs...
Kostas Tsimikas (Liverpool) Nike Hypervenom Phantom I
Sticking with Liverpool, and their new left back was clearly trying to catch the eye, lacing up in the 'Intense Heat Pack' Nike Hypervenom Phantom I from 2015. Think he'll need to do more than that to dislodge Andy Robertson though...
Kazaiah Sterling (Tottenham Hotspur U23) Nike Hypervenom Phantom I
Another player to catch the eye in one of the brighter OG Hypervenom colourways was Kazaiah Sterling, who wore the "Electro Purple/Volt/Black" look from the Nike 'Hi Viz' Pack.
Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona) PUMA evoSPEED 2.0
Antoine Griezmann has been one of the faces of the new Ultra boot – PUMA's return to the speed market. But it looks as though the Frenchman fancied another sort of return to speed, lacing up in the evoSPEED 2.0 in training this week. Great colourway choice too, matching up nicely with his Barca training kit.
Emi Buendia (Norwich) adidas Predator Powerswerve
Rolling the clock back to 2008, Emi Buendia trained in the Predator Powerswerve this week. The last traditional Predator with a tongue, this colourway was made for players in Austria and Switzerland at Euro 2008.
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus) Nike Premier II
This guy; he just epitomises effortless class, and his choice of blackout Premier II at Juve training simply elevates his level of cool with us. Touché, sir.
