Real Madrid have launched their highly anticipated alternative kit for their upcoming Champions League campaign. The new shirt is a sleek black design featuring a pair of dragons emblazoned on the front.
The juxtaposition of of fire-breathing, winged, mythical beasts and world-class footballing acumen is certainly confusing. Yohji Yamamoto is the brains behind the design and according to ESPN's Nicholas Rigg, the new kit isn't a product of some sort of infatuation held by the Japanese designer with HBO's pseudo-erotic fantasy drama Game of Thrones. There is actually a tenuous, symbolic link between the fictional monsters and the ethos of Los Blanos.
Apparently the dragon that will be on the front is a symbol of the "greatness, glory and power of the club"... #realmadrid — Nicholas Rigg (@nicholasrigg) August 26, 2014
@ElMadridismo93 the other one represents the club's resistance, determination and agility (!)
— Nicholas Rigg (@nicholasrigg) August 26, 2014
Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much. It seems far more likely that Yamamoto's initial minimalist design was disapproved the big wigs at Real Madrid and they instructed him to return with "more dragons and shit".
Hat tip: Bleacher Report
