Barcelona have unveiled their new light grey third kit for the 2022/23 season that pays homage to the club’s Catalan roots with a Sant Jordi cross.
Sant Jordi (otherwise known as Saint George in English) is the patron saint of Catalonia, as well as famously England, while the cross is also a symbol of various regions and cities across Europe – including Milan and Genoa.
Barcelona were formally presented with the Cross of Sant Jordi award in 1992 for ‘contributions to the betterment of society and its leading role in the promotion of sport, as well as its values in relation to sport, civic duty, and solidarity’.
The cross – red on a white background – has long featured on Barcelona’s club badge alongside the iconic yellow and red Catalan flag. Now, a twist in Barça’s traditional blue and red has been incorporated into the brand new jersey on a light grey base colour.
Made by Nike, Spotify will be the main sponsor as with the home and away kits.
Introducing our new third kit… 😍 pic.twitter.com/rtcIY7xNPp
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 24, 2022
The kit, which will be used across all competition rather than solely in Europe – as had been the case with last season’s third strip, is to be worn for the first time on Wednesday night as Barcelona’s men host Manchester City in a special friendly for raising funds to fight ALS at Camp Nou.
Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, Ansu Fati, Caroline Graham Hansen, Aitana Bonmati, Ingrid Engen and Mapi Leon all feature in the launch. But so too do Barça Genuine Foundation players like Adria Alonso, Jenifer Cabanillas, Marc Cutillas, Montse Dura, Manel Sola and Miquel Chavarria.
The club says those players “…might be different, but they are footballers just the same, and are just as much heroes and heroines who transmit the same sporting spirit and the same commitment both on and off the field of play.”