Manchester United’s midfield maestro (or is it winger?) Juan Mata got to grips with the an all-new adidas Predator – believed to be called the Predator Instinct – in training yesterday.
In this top spot by Nick M. and Riccardo L. on our Facebook page, Mata prepared for the Red Devils Champions League clash with German Champions Bayern Munich in a blacked-out pair of what are set to be one of adidas’ headline football boots for the World Cup this summer.
Mata – only recently an adidas athlete, having played extensively in the Nike Mercurial line since his time at Valencia – has worn the Predator for around a year now, jumping to the Three Stripes’ legendary boots with international colleague Fernando Torres.
Now, it would seem adidas have big plans for the Spanish international as he becomes one of the players testing out the new adidas Predator Instinct in its final stages ahead of release.
One of the parts of the boot we get a great look at in this shot is the new soleplate design. adidas have relied on variations of the SprintFrame for the last few iterations of the Predator, and the triangular studs would seem to indicate something similar in use again.
However, the soleplate does bear an interesting pattern under the forefoot, indicating adidas have something in store for this incarnation of the Predator’s outsole.
As for the upper, the images don’t give much of a hint; however, Xavi did rock up to training with Barcelona in his own pair of adidas Predator Instincts to pose for this picture, where we can see an extended rubber element across the forefoot that looks very comprehensive indeed.
2014 marks twenty years since the adidas Predator did so much for the world of football boots on its debut way back in 1994.
Since then, many players have spent their entire career in the iconic ‘Preds’ and will be hoping that this anniversary is appropriately marked by the Three Stripes with a boot that is truly worthy of it’s place in the lineage.
Let us know what you think in the comments!
Spots via' Nick M. and Riccardo L., Images via Manchester United & Barcelona Facebook Pages.
