Corteiz has recruited football’s original disruptor Mario Balotelli for its latest campaign — bonding over their shared anti-establishment values through a reference-heavy assortment of Summer-ready sporting goods.
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Led by milestones pulled from the illustrious career of Mario Balotelli, Corteiz nods to key points in the player’s tenure at Manchester City, Inter Milan, and the Italian national team.
The Italian theme is well represented through tracksuits in nylon shell and woven polyester, alongside staple Corteiz graphic tees updated to incorporate the red, white, and green of “Il Tricolore”, dropping alongside Chain print mesh shorts and the Royale Crest lineup of grey sweats.
Corteiz experiments with branding mashups inspired by iconic labels from “the boot,” such as Pirelli — the main sponsor of Inter Milan during Balotelli’s time at the club from 2007–2010, joined by a Ducati-inspired graphic tee that nods to Balotelli’s well-documented appreciation for high-performance motor vehicles.
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Corteiz also pays direct homage to Balotelli’s most iconic career moment from 2011, when the player was at the peak of his polarising powers at Manchester City, reissuing the same “WHY ALWAYS ME?” compression top worn when he scored the opening goal in City’s 6–1 trampling of Manchester United.
Balotelli wore the top as a way to hit back at the British media attention following a string of controversies leading up to the match, making it clear that despite the noise, he always delivers come game day — a sentiment shared by Corteiz, who’ve stayed true to their grassroots aesthetic since day one.
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The latest release from Corteiz is available to shop now, via the brand’s website.
