Since 1966, Barcelona have hosted the Joan Gamper Trophy at Camp Nou, in honour of the man who was a founding member of the club as well as playing for them and later becoming president.
Until 1996, four teams took part but since then it has effectively been a pre-season friendly with Barça taking on another club. Most recently, they beat Boca Juniors while wearing their home kit as usual, but the 2009 edition provided something different.
Manchester City were the opponents, wearing their then-new Umbro kit from the ‘Tailored by’ range, while Barça turned out in a kit that incorporated their traditional colours, but in an altered format.
Similar to the 2001-02 third kit which was also only worn once, a blue shirt was worn with grenadine shorts, while there was a vertical tricolour in that shade of red with peach and cyan.
Across the chest was the logo of MÉS – according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, “MÉS is an alliance between FC Barcelona, Nike and UNHCR launched last year with the slogan ‘More than a Club’ [in Catalan, ‘Més que un club’] to raise money for sports and education projects for young and vulnerable refugees by selling specially-designed sweatshirts, tee shirts and caps.”
Martin Petrov’s first-half goal for City proved to be the winner and the kit wasn’t seen again – while the shorts could have been used as an alternative home set, they weren’t called upon.
It is funny you liked it. I remember when we used that shirt and I thought another crime from nike against us