Update 27/03/2016: Many players have been spotted wearing the Nike Hypervenom 2 with the iconic honeycomb-like upper of the first-gen boots in the international friendlies that took place in the past few days. The list includes almost all off Nike's best players who wear the agility boot (Harry Kane, Daniel Sturridge, Robert Lewandowski, Mario Mandzukic and Kevin Volland). However, there are many more players who received the heavily modified boots, while there are still also players who wear the retail edition of the agility cleats, including England's Jamie Vardy.
Mandzukic x Croatia 2016 Away Kit x Modified Nike Hypervenoms
Lewandowski x Poland 2016 Home Kit x Modified Nike Hypervenoms
Jamie Vardy x England 2016 Away Kit x Non-Modified Nike Hypervenoms
As we revealed last month, Nike will revert the Nike Hypervenom II football boots to the upper of the first generation from fall 2016. It seems the professionals won't have to wait this long, after Everton's Ross Barkley tweeted a picture of his new cleats that doesn't leave much doubt.
Ross Barkley earlier received Nike Mercurial / Hypervenom hybrid boots, similar to those Neymar has been wearing this the earlier stages of the season.
Ross Barkley's Custom Radiant Reveal Nike Hypervenom Phinish Boots
This picture shows Ross Barkley's heavily customized Nike Hypervenom Phinish.
Boasting the outstanding lateral gradient zig-zag of the Nike Hypervenom Phinish Radiant Reveal soccer boots, Ross Barkley's football cleats combine the iconic honeycomb-like upper of the original Hypervenoms with the Flywire strings known from the second generation on each side.
Read more about the differences between the first-gen and second-gen upper
Additionally, Barkley's new Nike Hypervenom Phinish cleats boast a sole plate that at first glance like the one used for the Nike Tiempo Legend VI. Upon closer inspection, it's in fact the sole plate that was used for discontinued Nike Total 90 Laser IV, a boot Barkley wore in 2012 before switching to the Nike CTR360, Tiempo and later the Magista. Last but not least, Nike added Barkley's name on the outside below the Swoosh.
With the reversion to the honeycomb upper all but confirmed, what are your thoughts on Nike's move? Let us know in the comments below.