OFFICIAL - Red Bull Bragantino Leave Nike for New Balance

Update: It has now been confirmed by New Balance that they are the new technical sponsor of Red Bull Bragantino. They sent out the following tweet:

Although it's now official, details such as the length of the contract or the financial aspects are yet to emerge, but we can expect to see Bragantino wearing New Balance kits in the coming weeks or months.

Original:We have interesting news from Brazil for you today, thanks once again to @mantosdofutebol, who reports that Red Bull Bragantino have agreed a deal with New Balance to take over from Nike as kit supplier. The Brazilian club are reportedly unhappy with the service provided by Nike and will switch to wearing New Balance during the current season.

Red Bull Bragantino Fed up with nike teamwear, sign with new balance

Here are the home and away kits Red Bull Bragantino have received from Nike since 2019.

The club, known as Clube Atlético Bragantino until they were bought by energy drink giants Red Bull in 2019 (changing their name in 2020), have been sponsored by Nike since the Red Bull ownership began in 2019. All of the kits the American company has produced for them have been 100% teamwear, with their black and white designs rendering the kits even more plain looking.

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The one semi-exception was the release of the special Carijó shirt released in 2019 (seen below) which featured a graphic print inspired by one of the club’s most famous jerseys, but even this was printed on a simple white teamwear shirt.

The board are said to be unhappy with Nike’s treatment of the club. With few Nike products available to buy in the club shop, the stock being made available for sale is a bone of contention, in addition to the standard teamwear designs. Having lost their club badge in the takeover by Red Bull, the kits they've been wearing recently are a further loss of club identity. Although nothing has been officially announced, @mantosdofutebol has it on good authority that a deal with New Balance is signed and sealed, and that Bragantino will start wearing New Balance kits during the current 2022 season.

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Fallout from the Deal?

Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig's current Nike kits

This is something of a breakaway move by the Brazilian club, as all Red Bull-owned teams wear Nike gear, with the exception of Red Bull New York due to the MLS’ league-wide contract with Adidas. Red Bull and Nike surely have some sort of agreement in place for this so Bragantino could create problems for them by opting out of the Nike contract. It will also mark New Balance’s first foray into Brazilian football, having never partnered with a team in the country before.

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With the lack of customisation being the main reason for the split from Nike, we can expect New Balance’s kits to offer something not necessarily bespoke, but at least more with a little bit more attention to detail.

Do you think Red Bull Bragantino have made the right move? Should more clubs switch suppliers to avoid receiving standard teamwear? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments.