Olympique de Marseille 2018-2019 Away Shirt - Balotelli No.9 (XXL)

⚠️ Read this before you buy

One thing to know, and it is photographed: a pulled thread on the back of the shirt (photo 6). The knit is not pierced — it is simply a thread lifted out of the weave over a few centimetres. Invisible when worn, but I would rather you knew before ordering than when you open the parcel.

📐 Flat measurements

Lay flat a shirt that fits you well, measure it the same way and compare — it is by far the most reliable method, much more than the letter on the label.

The black is deep and has not drifted towards grey, which is not that common on a dark shirt seven years old. The raised turquoise chevrons are crisp across the whole chest, with no cracking at the folds, and the marled sleeves have kept all their contrast. The BALOTELLI No.9 nameset in white with yellow outline is intact, LFP patch included, and the Orange chest sponsor is clean. Embroidered crest flawless with its gold star, Ligue 1 Conforama patch sharp on the sleeve, light blue collar undistorted. The one reservation: a pulled thread on the back (photo 6), with no hole in the knit.

Unsure about the size? This Puma XXL is generous (62 x 78 cm): compare the flat measurements above, or check my sizing guide.

✦ Authenticity guaranteed for life

Item checked by hand in my authentication workshop. If an item bought from me is ever identified as a unofficial piece, I refund it in full. Guarantee with no expiry date.

• Complete Puma label photographed (photo 4): STYLE NO. 753544-02, date 12/21/17, batch number GS8MJSXF00022 and factory QR code. Four distinct identifiers — unofficial pieces usually make do with one invented reference
• Fully embroidered crest (photo 3): the light blue O-M monogram stands out in sharp relief, the 1993 gold star is embroidered thread by thread and the “DROIT AU BUT” beneath stays legible down to the small lettering. That is where reproductions collapse
• Ligue 1 Conforama patch on the sleeve: that naming only existed for a few seasons. It dates the shirt precisely and places it in the league version, distinct from the European kits
• The chevrons are raised, not printed: the turquoise across the chest is an inset knit you can clearly feel under the finger, and the sleeves use a different marled weave again. Three textures on a single shirt
• Real photos of the exact shirt you receive, never stock images — full method in my authentication guide

📖 Super Mario at the Vélodrome, six months that stuck

Some namesets matter less for the number of matches than for the impression left behind. Balotelli at Marseille was half a season — and everybody remembers it.

❄️ January 2019 — the surprise signing. Marseille bring in Mario Balotelli in the winter window. The Vélodrome catches fire for a striker coming off a big season at Nice.

📱 The smartphone celebration. Within his first matches he scores and films his own celebration live from the touchline. The image went round the world and stays attached to this shirt.

⚽ A short, intense spell. He leaves the club in summer 2019. The Marseille BALOTELLI nameset therefore only existed for half a season, which explains how rare it is today.

🎨 An away kit that divided opinion — deep black cut through with turquoise chevrons and marled sleeves: Puma went a long way from the traditional white and light blue. That is exactly what makes it one of the most sought-after Marseille away shirts of the period.

🎯 Who is this shirt for?

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Not sure? My Mystery Box offer is an excellent alternative — just write “OM” in the order notes.

❓ Frequently asked questions about this shirt

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