Official: Italy leaves kit provider Puma after 22 years
The 2022 Qatar World Cup qualyfiers will be the last time we'll see the Azzurra in their traditional blue Puma kit. The Italian Federation announced from 2023 onwards they're switching to a new provider after 22 years.
The Italian Football Federation has announced from January 2023 onwards they won't be wearing the blue Puma kits like they have since they first started their association with the German brand, back in 2003. Who are they switching to? Adidas, the historic rival of their former partners.
"This announcement is a reason for pride for the [Italian Football Federation]", said its president, Gabriele Gravina. "This collaboration represents a step forward in our path to grow our commercial value and strengthens our brand, both inside Italy and worldwide".
Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted was equally happy: "We are incredibly proud to announce this partnership with the Italian Football Federation. We're glad one of the most successful national teams joins our partners, together with the DFB (Germany), the RFEF (Spain), the AFA (Argentina) and the RBFA (Belgium".
The four-year deal is worth around 35 million euros per year annually and it covers men's, women's and even esports teams. Puma's offer was said to be 20 million euros a year. "The financials made it a poor business case and we therefore decided to not exercise our matching right," Puma said in a statement.
The 2022 World Cup qualifiers will therefore be the last time we'll see the traditional blue Puma kit for Italy, the partner with whom the Azurra won the 2006 World Cup and the 2020 European Championship.
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