Kolkata: It was literally the Bijoya Dashami of World Cup football on Sunday but the magic of Lionel Messi or LM 10 and Argentina helped traders fill their coffers not just at Bidhan Market, but even the official stores of Messi’s jersey spread across the city.Argentina’s blue-white jersey sold ten times more than the Spanish red on Sunday. More importantly, LM 10 jerseys sold like hotcakes with that of Spanish star Lamine Yamal lagging far behind. At the official store at South city Mall, several customers had to return empty handed. At Bidhan Market, which witnessed an impromptu police raid this weekend for selling jersey “lookalikes”, several fans were ready to shell out anything between Rs 500-Rs 1,200 for a jersey with Messi inscribed on it from the Esplanade footpath even as the main Bidhan Market remained shut owing to it being a Sunday.For the record, the cheapest Argentine jerseys sold at Rs 200-250 at the beginning of the World Cup. Spanish jerseys are still sold between Rs 300 and 500 at Bidhan Market.For those looking for official merchandise, frenzy for Argentine jerseys had begun as the team made its way to the quarters. Retailers said Argentina jerseys had sold out even before the team booked its place in the World Cup Final with one shop selling 230-odd pieces, the price tag anywhere between RS 6,500 and Rs 9,000. Yet, Spain’s official jersey too found around 60-odd takers this weekend alone, perhaps indicating the shifting allegiance for the team.For those choosing the cheaper varieties, Abhishek Chowdhury, a seller at Esplanade claimed that they sold over 150 pieces since Friday. “Ideally, we would love to see the city turn blue and white. “ “But it is more of a curiosity factor working for Yamal than genuine fan love. LM 10 is the one providing us business,” he added.“This is probably Messi’s last world Cup appearance. He is special for football and it is thus always a special feeling to catch a final like this wearing his jersey,” said Saptak Bhattacharya of Salt Lake.Amid all this, the search for the queer continued at the Maidan Market. Tollygunge’s Raktim Maity had a special demand – he needed the “away” jersey of Argentina besides the regular one. He finally found it after shelling Rs 650 in the process on Saturday. “Argentina’s progress — and the fact that Messi has single-handedly delivered a knockout punch in a group stage match — has brought some relief to the stressed market,” said Md Rustam, another seller.
