Neymar Tests Mystery Nike Prototype
He's fast becoming Nike's go-to player for the latest prototypes. It's not the first time we've seen Neymar testing a blacked out pair of football boots - in fact, this is the third separate boot he's tested this year. This time though, things really are getting exciting. Mainly because we have no real idea what he's wearing!
Our best guess? Well for starters, this isn't the Nike Mercurial Vapor IX. Nike's ninth generation Mercurial is set for release early next year and has already made its way onto the feet of some Chinese professionals. This is something very different. The Nike Vapor X? The Nike GS 2? A new silo? All are possibilities!
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The one feature that instantly catches the eye - and something that has us very excited - is the heavily dimpled texture on the upper. We expect Nike to bring something similar to the Nike Vapor IX next year, but to a far lesser extent. The distinctive divots wrap around the entire upper and share similarities to what you'd see on match footballs and golf balls.
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The talking points don't stop there. One look at the unorthodox sole-plate shows something we've never seen from a Nike speed boot. Asymmetrically-placed, rounded studs feature on a newly constructed figure-of-eight style outsole. For so long, Nike have used aggressively shaped bladed studs on each Vapor generation. 
If this is going to be a future addition to the Mercurial line, Nike are really shaking things up. Neymar's boots feature offset lacing, opening up more room on the instep of the boots. Centred lacing has been a common feature on all Mercurial Vapor boots.
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There's no knowing if Nike are planning a serous re-work of the Mercurial silo, if this is another limited concept design similar to the GS, or if it's a new boot silo altogether. As for Nike's time-line with this boot, we'd hazard a guess at a Fall/Winter 2013 release.
Let us know what you think we're looking at here. Share your thoughts and join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.
