By florida 
One morning, I was scrolling through my phone when I saw a photo of a Monaco match, which immediately reminded me of the team jersey I had bought before. It was the home jersey for the 2016-2017 season, with red and white stripes. I remember liking it a lot at the time, but I never wore it and didn’t know where I had put it.Anyway, I had nothing else to do, so I decided to find it and see how it compared to the new one.
I ran to the garage and started rummaging through the plastic boxes full of junk. I opened them one by one, and they were all covered in dust. The labels read “sports equipment,” “winter clothes,” ‘tools’… After searching for over an hour, I finally found it in a box labeled “soccer stuff.”
The jersey was neatly folded and placed on top. When I took it out, the color was still bright red, not faded at all. I shook it, and it still had a faint scent of laundry detergent. I was surprised that the jersey was preserved so well.
Actually, I never bought the new genuine one because it was too expensive. But a few months ago, I saw a good-quality replica online, so I placed an order. When it arrived, the packaging was quite elaborate, with the jersey neatly folded in a small cloth bag and looking brand new.
I took out the new jersey and laid it on the floor next to the old one. The difference was immediately apparent.
Just looking at the colors, the new one is a brighter red, as if it has a reflective effect. The old one is a deeper red, somewhat like a burgundy. It could be the lighting, or it could be the fabric. I took them to the window to take a closer look and found that the old one looks more stable in sunlight, while the new one is a bit glaring.
However, they are both red and white stripes, so you can tell at a glance that they are Monaco jerseys.
The old jersey has a round collar, which is very ordinary but fits snugly around the neck. The new one has a small V-shaped seam at the front of the collar, which looks more fashionable. But I tried it on, and the V shape doesn’t really serve any purpose and tends to lose its shape.
I think the old design is more practical, while the new one is just for looks and doesn’t improve the actual experience.
I touched the fabric of both jerseys with my hands. The old one is thick and tightly woven, a bit like old-fashioned sportswear. The new one is very smooth and feels like it has a special coating.
The new one is noticeably lighter and should be more comfortable to wear, especially in the summer. But the problem is, will such thin fabric lose its shape after a few washes? The old one is heavy but durable and hasn’t worn out after all these years.
Both jerseys have the Emirates logo in the same place. But the design is different. The old logo is a hard plastic sticker that feels raised, like a small sticker. The new logo is printed directly on the jersey and is flat, blending in with the fabric.
The new one looks cleaner and won’t peel off. But the old one feels more like a jersey, while the new one looks more like a regular T-shirt.
Monaco’s team crest is on the chest. The old one was sewn on, and you could feel a noticeable bump, like hand embroidery. The new one is heat-pressed, completely flat, and looks very neat.
But I prefer the texture of the old version. The old version feels like a “real jersey” when you touch it, but the new version doesn’t have that at all. The new design is more modern, but it lacks a certain human touch.
I decided to try both on. Both are labeled “medium,” but they feel different. The old one is tighter, with shorter sleeves, and fits closer to the body. The new one is looser, with more space around the shoulders and chest, and feels more like a regular T-shirt.
Perhaps today’s jerseys are designed with comfort in mind, rather than the athletic feel of the past. But if you want that “game-day” feel, the old one is better.
To summarize: if you want a sturdy, high-quality jersey that looks like it was made for actual games, the old one is better. It’s thick, durable, and the details are more thoughtful.
But if you just want something comfortable for everyday wear and don’t care about that “hardcore” feel, the new one is more suitable. It’s lightweight, soft, and breathable, perfect for casual outings or watching games.
These two jerseys are from the same team, but they give off completely different vibes. The old one feels like “equipment,” while the new one feels more like “clothing.” Technology is advancing, designs are changing, but some things are slowly disappearing.
For example, the thick fabric, raised team logos, and stiff emblems… These elements that now seem “outdated” are precisely what older fans cherish the most.
Next time I shop for something, I won’t kneel on the ground to compare them. My knees hurt for hours, and I’ve learned my lesson.