Jack Grealish, a standout for Manchester City, honoured the ‘casual era’ of football and the early 1980s in his first Puma model session after being named the brand’s face.

But a lot of people have pointed out similarities between Grealish’s attire and what Rick Astley wore in the 1987 music video for his famous song Never Gonna Give You Up. 

The Manchester City player was spotted dining in an Italian-themed restaurant for Puma’s inaugural Palermo campaign. He was dressed in a sand-colored trench coat, blue pants and white sneakers. 

One fan asked on social media, “Is that Rick Astley or Jack Grealish?” after watching a promotional video. I simply am unable to determine. One person commented, “Wow, Jack Grealish is really channelling his inner Rick Astley.” 

Puma stated that Grealish was the ideal choice for the campaign and that they were attempting to “bring together past and present football DNA” with the “effortless Italian style philosophy.” 

Manchester City star Jack Grealish has paid homage to the early 1980’s and football’s ‘casual era’ during his first shoot as a model since becoming the face of Puma

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The campaign with Puma comes as no surprise considering Grealish signed the most lucrative boot contract ever handed to a British footballer by becoming the face of of the brand in March

The clothing that Grealish is wearing has prompted many to compare it to what Rick Astley wore in the 1987 music video for his smash song Never Gonna Give You Up.

The 28-year-old England player added his unique touch to the Palermo line in an effort to revive the terrace look of the 1980s, which was extremely popular with football fans in the past. 

Grealish brought in fresh colour palettes that are lively and retro-inspired. In a nod to the 1980s, he was seen sporting an enormous topcoat and light-washed denim. 

Grealish completed the shot with a pitch-inspired ensemble that included a PUMA tricot and burgundy corduroy trousers. She was also spotted sporting items with geometric patterns and vibrant colours.

Given that Grealish became the face of Puma in March 2023, he signed the most lucrative boot contract ever given to a British football player, thus the campaign with the company is not surprising. 

At the time, sources close to Nike claimed that one of the Premier League’s most marketable players, Jack Grealish, had signed a five-year, £10 million-a-season contract with Puma. 

Nike declined to equal Puma’s astounding number because their athlete roster is larger. Additionally, Puma was able to provide the Manchester City player with a more customised branding package. 

Johan Adamsson, Head of Sports Marketing at Puma Global, stated: “We want to make Jack one of the most important brand faces in football and culture” at the time of the agreement.

“His [Grealish’s] position opens up opportunities to work with many of our fashion initiatives and to collaborate with him on his many personal causes,” Adamsson continued. 

In addition to being a key figure in helping Manchester City win the championship the previous season, Grealish is a well-known brand ambassador for Gucci and Bose, drawing a lot of attention from the advertising world. 

Nike sources at the time believed Grealish, who is one of the most marketable players in the Premier League, penned a deal worth around £10million a season for five years at Puma

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Nike sources at the time believed Grealish, who is one of the most marketable players in the Premier League, penned a deal worth around £10million a season for five years at Puma.