Barcelona could make its own football shirts

It has been rumored for some time that Barcelona could sever its ties with Nike. The Blaugrana would not be satisfied with the amount that the brand pays for putting its name on the Catalan club's jersey every year (100 million euros fixed plus 55 million in bonuses) and are therefore considering a change of sponsor. Until a few months ago, there was speculation as to whether New Balance or PUMA would feature on the jerseys of Joan Laporta's club, but the scenario now seems to have changed completely. In recent days, there have been rumors that Hummel has been included in the race to become Barcelona's next official kit supplier.

Hummel, a Danish brand with German roots, has a lot of experience in European football: in addition to the Danish national team, it sponsors Real Betis Balompié and Las Palmas in LaLiga, but has also conquered the Premier League and the Championship and can be seen on the shirts of Everton and Southampton. The move to Hummel would be an interesting one that could redefine the club's global vision, but temptation aside, it is difficult to see how such a small brand could meet the Blaugrana's financial demands. Barcelona's decision to part ways with Nike would be a real economic challenge for rivals Real Madrid, who earn around €120 million a year thanks to their agreement with adidas.

But the most intriguing option currently on the Blaugrana's desk is to produce their own jerseys. This practice is not at all uncommon in Europe: Just think of Serie A, where clubs like Napoli and Lecce - with EA7 and M908 respectively - play with their kits made in-house. It would certainly be a make-or-break strategy, as forgoing a secure (and still substantial) annual income is an important decision. Producing the jerseys in-house could pay off in the long run, as the income from merchandising and jersey sales would flow directly into the club's finance and enable the immediate implementation of measures such as training facilities, but also talent scouting, which would make Barcelona even more of a world leader in this regard. On the other hand, according to the latest UEFA financial report, Barcelona would be the club with the highest revenue from the sale of its jersey, also thanks to the excellent figures of its Femeni selection.

This strategy would not even be new for Barcelona: in the 1960s and 1970s, the team wore their matches in jerseys from the Mont-Halt brand, owned by former president Agustí Montal Costa, a businessman in the textile industry. The jerseys of the Mont-Halt era were 100% cotton, which shows a certain distance from current history, but which may have influenced the club's heritage and DNA. It remains to be seen how Barcelona will decide, hovering between scenarios that will surely change its future.