Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
In an intriguing development, Real Madrid’s official website has introduced a surprising restriction when it comes to personalising their football shirts.
Fans looking to add the names of legendary Barcelona players to their Real Madrid jerseys will be disappointed, as the club’s online store does not permit the inclusion of names such as Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.
When attempting to personalise a shirt with any of these Barcelona greats, users are met with a red warning message stating: “Sorry, our personalisation policy does not allow this name.”
This restriction highlights Real Madrid’s stance on maintaining a clear divide between the two clubs, reflecting the intense rivalry that has long characterised Spanish football.
What can be printed and what not?
Additionally, the policy extends to other prominent Barcelona figures, including Victor Valdes, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.
Interestingly, however, names like Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, former Barcelona bosses, pass the personalisation test.
This decision by Real Madrid’s online store might seem unusual, especially considering that it is not typical for fans to combine the identities of rival clubs in such a manner.
While it is rare for supporters to personalise a Real Madrid shirt with the name of a Barcelona player (or vice versa), it is clear that Real Madrid want to ensure that their merchandise remains strictly associated with their own legends and players.
For those who are keen to celebrate the achievements of both clubs, the restriction means that fans will have to find alternative ways to honour their favourite footballers.
Whether this policy will change in the future remains to be seen, but for now, supporters will need to respect Real Madrid’s personalisation rules and choose names from their own roster of heroes.
