Al-Ain star Omar Abdulrahman is helping Nike launch its new Hypervenom II football boot.
Nike unveiled a marketing campaign Thursday, featuring top players from around the world ahead of the new boot’s launch at the end of May. Abdulrahman, who is the highest paid footballer in Asia, is appearing in the marketing campaign alongside stars such as Neymar, Edinson Cavani, Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney and Alex Morgan, for the follow-up to Nike’s hugely successful Hypervenom.
“Players loved the original Hypervenom, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do even better,” Max Blau, vice president of Nike Football Footwear, said in a press release. "We’re not afraid to make as many changes as the boot needs to be the best. The kind of players who wear Hypervenom would expect nothing less.”
Those changes came from direct input from Nike’s huge roster of football stars.
“When I tried it for the first time, it made me feel confident because of its flexibility and the control of the ball,” Abdulrahman said, according to 360sports.com . “It is like an extension of my foot. I am so excited to play wearing Hypervenom II.”
The winger, who is also on the United Arab Emirates’ national team, first signed on with Nike in 2012. He is also a brand ambassador for Etisalat. With columnists calling him the " best Asian player playing in Asia,” Abdulrahman’s reputation has grown on the international scene. He completed a two week trial with Manchester City several years ago and has been repeatedly tipped for a possible transfer to a top European club.
For the Hypervenom II advertising campaign, Abdulrahman so far only appears in still shots, with the European league players owning the screen time in the first video promo. We were sad too.
The boot itself will make its world premiere on the feet of Neymar, who will debut them this Saturday in Barcelona's final La Liga match against Deportivo La Coruna.