Last week, Italian giants Inter Milan released their 2014/15 home kit. With a radical new design and an updated crest, this shirt is something of a break with tradition.
As their nickname suggests, the Nerazzurri are known for wearing equal parts black and blue.
This year, however, they’ve gone for a predominately black jersey, with thin blue pinstripes. Purists may disapprove, but it makes for a fresh, interesting look. Give them credit; it’s a bold choice. The traditional striped design has been worn every season throughout the club’s 106-year history.
In addition, Inter have changed their club crest, although you wouldn’t know it to look at it. It’s hard to overstate just how subtle the changes are; you just hope they didn’t fork over too much cash to whichever graphic design firm did it.
The alterations to the crest include a re-ordering of the colors of the outer-ring (from black-gold-blue-gold to black-blue-gold-lighter gold), and a shortening of the ‘I’ in the centre of the badge. Believe me, it feel ridiculous to even mention these differences – they’re that insignificant.
Pirelli’s logo, with its trademark elongated ‘P’, seems to be the only familiar feature of this adventurous strip. The tire manufacturer, who have served as Inter’s shirt sponsor since 1995, have become so synonymous with the Milan club that it’s hard to imagine one without the other.
The Pirelli logo and the famous Nike swoosh are both white, while the sleeve cuffs and polo collar come with blue detail.
There’s a St George’s Cross, in tribute of the city of Milan, on the inside collar, and the word ‘Inter’ on the back, just below the collar.
The players’ numbers and lettering are blue – the same shade as the pinstripes – and are in Nike’s trademark 2014 font, similar to that seen on Brazil’s World Cup jerseys.
The shorts and socks are both primarily black, while the shorts feature blue piping.
All in all, this is a reasonably attractive kit, but it probably won’t go down as a classic. From last season’s overly-dark jersey to the uncharacteristic red away shirt of 2012/13, Inter have been experimenting quite a lot with their strips recently. While some enjoy these innovations, many would prefer to see the 18-time Scudetto winners don something a bit more traditional. Perhaps this is just a step too far.
Inter Milan’s away shirt for 2014/15:
Inter Milan’s third shirt for 2014/15:
