Another Nike Loss: Manuel Akanji to Join Puma
It looks like Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji will be the next top player to become a Puma-sponsored athlete.
Akanji to Join Puma
Puma show no signs of letting up in their efforts to usurp Nike and Adidas at the top of the football boot market. After announcing Jack Grealish as their newest athlete last week, it looks like they'll soon be adding his teammate, Manuel Akanji, to their books. Akanji had been sponsored by Nike since the start of his career, but wore a pair of blue and orange Puma Future boots at the weekend as his side overcame Crystal Palace.
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Throughout his career, Akanji had only ever worn Nike footwear, sporting various incarnations of the Mercurial, Phantom and Tiempo and Magista Obra lines over the years. The game against Palace on Saturday was the first time he laced up in boots from another brand, although he was also spotted training in a pink pair of Puma Futures at the beginning of the year.
All the signs indicate that Akanji will become an official Puma athlete in the near future. The trend of Puma hoovering up out of contract players shows no signs of abating, with an emphasis seemingly on those at Manchester City, their flagship club. Kyle Walker, Ederson, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez and - soon Akanji - have all swapped the Swoosh for the Formstripe over the last coupe of seasons.
A good move for Akanji? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
