Rabona Paper | Issue 2

Issue No..2 Autumn 2015

PA P E R

by Rabona Magazine rabonamag.com

Captured 26 July, 2015 YANKEE STADIUM, NEW YORK CITY Image by NATHAN CONGLETON Andrea Pirlo makes his long-awaited New York City FC debut, coming on as a second half substitute in a 5-3 MLS win over Orlando City. The game also featured Spain and Barcelona legend David Villa and Orlando FC’s Brazilian star Kaka.

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Issue No.2

The current Clasico era of Messi, Suarez and Neymar on one side, and Ronaldo, Bale and Rodriguez on the other is a truly rare thing.

At this point above all others, Barcelona and Real Madrid are at their peak simultaneously - and it has created a rivalry that’s as fierce as ever.

The last time either club failed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League was 2007, indicating that their dominance of European football is approaching a decade.

In this new-look Rabona Paper, our second release of the sister publication to Rabona Magazine, Miguel Delaney explores the past, present and future of the Clasico pair’s influence on European football.

Also in this issue, James Horncastle catches up with several members of the Fiorentina squad in London and Shamoon Hafez discusses the potential impact of Manchester United’s new signing Memphis Depay with Sir Alex Ferguson’s former No.2 Rene Meulensteen.

There are also features on Julian Speroni’s 11 years at Crystal Palace and Paul Pogba’s ability to replace Arturo Vidal at Juventus.

Finally, there’s also a special feature on Nike Academy’s Sean Clare, one of the chosen few young footballers training at the respected Nike training centre.

So as usual, put your feet up, grab a cup tea and enjoy the new-look Rabona Paper.

MICHAEL DA SILVA, EDITOR OF RABONA

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CR EDI T S

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Da Silva DESIGN & ART DIRECTION Dima Kuzmichev, Buro ASSOCIATE EDITOR Seth Libby WORDS Dermot Corrigan, Miguel Delaney, Adam Digby, Shamoon Hafez, Raphael Honigstein, James Horncastle, Julien Laurens, Greg Lea. PHOTOGRAPHY Nathan Congleton, Simon Di Principe, Khalil Musa, WEBSITE Andrew Weber, Feint Creative THANK YOU Shareen Alder, Jamie Barr, Oliver Bostock, Marie Da Silva, Elise De Paepe, Dominique Delvaille, Getty Images, Ben Grant, Ashley Grant-Smith, Le Coq Sportif, Nathan Makan, Rene Meulensteen, Tony Napodano, New Balance, Nike, Georgia Penny, Soccerex, Josh Toussaint.

COVER PHOTO David Ramos

RABONA MEDIA LTD All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without written permission of the editor. Some noncommercial uses may be permitted by copyright law.

For permission requests, write to the editor. hello@rabonamag.com Printed by Jump

Contents

P. 0 8 R ECOM M E N D S

This slick Komono watch features in our top five list of stuff we like.

P. 2 2 N I K E AC A D E M Y

We spend the weekend with Sean Clare, one of the Nike Academy’s brightest young talents.

Cover Story

Pep Guardiola famously described Philipp Lahm as the smartest player he’s ever coached. Uli Hesse gets inside the mind of the Bayern captain in our cover interview.

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P. 16 FIORENTINA

P. 18 SP E RO NI

P. 2 0 HACKNEY M AR SHES

P. 26 MEMPHIS DEPAY

P. 28 POG BA

James Horncastle catches up with the Fiorentina team as Viola launch their new Le Coq Sportif kit.

Greg Lea talks to the Crystal Palace goalkeeper, a rare example of loyalty in modern day football.

Simon Di Principe spends a season documenting east London’s Sunday League football scene.

We speak to former Manchester United No.2 Rene Meulensteen about Old Trafford’s new star.

Adam Digby on why Juventus’ Vidal replacement has been under their noses the whole time.

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Recommends

NEW BALANCE VISARO

LE COQ SPORTIF FIORENTINA 15/16

New Balance are back, which means every football hipster will be wearing the Visaro, a lightweight and stylish number that you’ll see adorning the feet of Aaron Ramsey, Samir Nasri and others.

Le Coq Sportif, the French sportswear gurus make a welcome return to football.

And boy, we’ve missed them. This Fiorentina shirt is clean, elegant and drop-dead gorgeous.

Available for £130 at newbalance.co.uk.

Available for £55 at lecoqsportif.com.

HERSCHEL KEATS DUFFLE

KOMONO WINSTON ROYALE SILVER BLUE

GOPRO HERO4 SESSION CAMERA

The Keats Duffle (navy/red) is another simple but effective effort by Herschel.

This functional weekend bag offers hidden backpack straps for an additional carrying option. Smart.

Komono make beautiful watches. It’s a fact. Belgium’s finest have delivered another knockout with the Winston. Komono means “small things” but each watch in the Winston range makes a big statement.

GoPro just keep on innovating. The tiny Hero4 is their smallest, lightest and most ruggedly robust camera to date and has a one-button control. It’s waterproof to 33 feet and shoots in 1080p and 1440p.

Available for $99.99 at herschelsupply.com.

Available for €89.95 at komono.com.

Available for £329.99 at gopro.com.

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