Manchester City to wear record-breaking kit against Inter in Champions League opener

The Etihad Stadium will see Manchester City make a notable change to their kit on Wednesday night, as Pep Guardiola’s side take on Inter in their brand new fourth strip.

It will be the first time that Manchester City have not worn their traditional sky blue home kit in a home fixture since 2005, when the club opted to don a changed strip in a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.

That fixture will often be remembered for the occasion that goalkeeper David James was sent to feature up-front for Manchester City by manager Stuart Pearce in search of a late winner in the contest.

Manchester City’s newly-released fourth kit is a special edition part-designed by Noel Gallagher, in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of reunited band Oasis’ album, ‘Definitely Maybe’.

But before the new kit has been presented by the players in match action, Manchester City’s fourth shirt has already broken records off the pitch through its day one sales figures, as detailed in a new report.

According to the information of FourFourTwo, Manchester City’s ‘Definitely City’ fourth shirt – part-designed by Oasis icon Noel Gallagher – recorded the highest day-one sales for a kit launched by the club ever.

Furthermore, the report also reveals that on launch day, Manchester City saw the highest day of sales revenue ever, only topped by the launch of the club’s commemorative treble-winning shirt back in 2023.

On launch day, it is pointed out that shirt sales of the fourth kit made up a staggering 71 per cent of the total revenue, with the second most popular item sold being a navy bomber jacket worn by Pep Guardiola in promotional images and videos.

Manchester City’s meeting with Inter Milan on Wednesday night is the first of eight matches in a revamped version of the UEFA Champions League, with the formerly known group stage replaced by a league format featuring all 36 teams.

City face a further seven matches after the meeting with the Italian giants, all featuring different opponents and four contests away from home, which the club have also announced will be used as opportunities to wear the ‘Definitely City’ fourth kit.

Pep Guardiola’s players will not wear the fourth kit away from selected European away fixtures this season, whilst there other two alternative shirts have also been big hits amongst supporters, particular the away kit – inspired by their iconic 1999 play-off final jersey.