At 10 in the morning the Barcelona anthem sounded and the Camp Nou FCBotiga opened its doors. Afterwards, only The Rolling Stones blared from the store's speakers. About twenty fans were waiting outside. It wasn't just any Monday. The limited edition t-shirt that Barça will wear for the classic was on sale with the lips and tongue of the legendary rock band on the chest, thanks to the sponsorship of Spotify. And there was expectation. Like on the first day of sales. But the sale was small: the garment was worth 399.90 euros.
Marta arrived at eight in the morning. She wanted the shirt for her husband. “It's for her birthday but now I don't know if I'll last until the day,” the lady confessed. She was the first. Alberto, retired, didn't get up that early. “I came at a quarter past nine. I didn't expect to be one of the first, so I'm happy,” he explained to this newspaper.
At one of the three checkouts that were open waiting for the most eager buyers, he asked for the member discount. For that 10%, the shirt cost him 360 euros. “I'll wear it on Saturday,” Alberto confessed. But he was so eager that he couldn't contain himself and he ended up starring in a half striptease to end up leaving the store already dressed in the newly paid elastic. “I'll frame it. It is a historic shirt,” said Adrià and Ferran.
Joshua came on assignment. “A friend from Honduras asked me for it. Now he has to pay me,” he laughed. The same thing happened to Rucky, a Thai woman living in Barcelona. “I like Iron Maiden or Metallica more,” a third party who also did the favor suggested for future collaborations.
Josep Maria Meseguer's cell phone was smoking. The BLM director verified the success of the launch on site. “The only question is whether they will sell out in the morning or in the afternoon. Just that,” he predicted to La Vanguardia.
And he was not wrong. At eleven o'clock, only the women's team t-shirts were left on the website. Barcelona reserved some 700 of the 1,899 shirts that went on the market for physical stores. “Here at Camp Nou we have 500 units,” said a shop assistant while Jagger's voice sang Crazy Mama and Let me down slow.
“In the first half hour we have only sold Stones t-shirts,” confessed a cashier, who was amazed when Lluís showed up with two units. “For me and my cousin. I've seen them live four times. My brother has the signatures of all three of the band. In the family we are all very fans.” The 720 euros didn't hurt.
But the classic t-shirt is not the only piece. Barça has launched an entire collection: t-shirts (39 euros), sweatshirts (75) and hats (39), all with the tongue next to their shield, and blaugrana scarves with the title of the song Start me up (24.9) , that is, Excite me.
The t-shirt is not for all budgets. That's why Víctor's friends, when they saw the news about the special edition, decided to get together for his birthday gift. "There are 30 of us: from the university, from work, from the theater... He is almost more of a fan of the Rolling Stones than of Barça, and he is very much a Barça fan." So, if you read this, Victor, look surprised at the party.
