Madrid, and with it, all of Spain, has entered a collective trance: everyone wants the Spanish National Football Team shirt and, if possible, the white one. The historic qualification of the national team for the championship final has unleashed a real frenzy that has completely overwhelmed the official distribution channels, turning the informal market in the capital into the main supply point for fans. From Gran Vía to the metro corridors in Plaza de España, passing through the heart of El Rastro, the "Roja" shirt has become the most difficult item to obtain.
Last Sunday, the stalls in El Rastro were a hive of activity where imitation shirts changed hands. "They are sold out, we have almost nothing left. People have gone crazy this year", commented one of the vendors stationed near Plaza de Cascorro.
In this street market, bargaining always sets the final price: the starting cost of these replicas ranged between 40 and 60 euros, an unusually high figure for the imitation market, although for the most skilled buyers, the final price could drop to between 25 and 30 euros.
The emotional aftermath of the semi-final match extended the working day of street vendors until the early hours of the morning. The next day, the landscape in the city center was deserted, not due to a lack of willingness to sell, but due to lack of stock. "On Tuesday, we worked until late, the night of the semi-final was crazy, and we sold almost everything we had," recounted a street vendor stationed on the stairs of Plaza de España station while showing the little material he had left to travelers. "We only have one or two shirts left, and in very large sizes. People were taking them in threes for their friends".
The desperation to obtain merchandise is total. Street vendors constantly call their distribution networks to check if more stock will arrive, although the responses from suppliers are not encouraging. "This morning I called to ask for more merchandise, and they told me they have nothing... We sell what little we have at whatever price people are willing to pay," another vendor asserts.
This explains why the remaining pieces stand firm at 40 to 60 euros, with little room for negotiation. Nevertheless, street vendors are hopeful that distributors will manage to obtain new imitations by the weekend: "If we get more clothes, we will go out to sell in the afternoon and evening. If nothing arrives... we simply won't be there," they conclude.
In contrast to the imitation on the sidewalks, the other side of the coin is experienced in official stores. The Adidas store on Gran Vía fills up with fans willing to pay for the original fabric, which is sold at a price of 100 euros in its standard version, and rises to 150 euros in the Authentic version, identical to the one worn by players on the field and made with high-performance thermoregulatory technology.
For many, the price difference is more than justified, as in the case of a couple of Paraguayan tourists who were enjoying their last hours of vacation in Madrid. Attracted by the optimism that pervades the city, they decided that the best memory of their time in Europe was to take home the Roja shirt: "We wanted to buy the official, the real one, because it has a better design and quality", they explained while comparing the garments in the store. "We know that on the street they sell much cheaper copies, but for us, this is a special memory. It's something for a lifetime."
The commercial duality experienced on the streets of Madrid reflects the passion and excitement felt throughout the country. Whether in red or white, with original seams or imitation, the capital has dressed up in its finest attire, ready to push its team towards eternal glory in a celebration that is expected to spread throughout the city.