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Alright so today I gotta share this whole mess about checking if a Chelsea away jersey is real. Total headache, but maybe my mess helps you.
Started simple. Wanted this Chelsea away kit – you know, that vibrant blue one? Didn’t wanna pay stupid money at the megastore, figured I’d look online. Found one. Price seemed too good, honestly. Thought, “Score!” But man, sometimes you get what you pay for.
Jersey arrived. Looked okay at first glance, kinda. Held it up. First thing I did was eyeball the club crest. Felt the embroidery. Seemed a bit rough, threads sticking out. Not smooth like the one my mate has. The lion looked a bit… off? Chunky. Didn’t sit right.
Next up, I flipped it inside out. Because apparently, that’s where the real stuff hides. Looked at the seams and stitching on the inside. Some parts were messy, threads all over the place, not clean lines. Like someone rushed it. Cheap feeling. Real ones are usually super neat inside.
Third thing, the sponsor logo. The big “Three” across the front. Ran my finger over it. Felt slightly sticky? And it was printed on, like thick plastic. Remembered authentic ones aren’t that shiny or plasticky. Felt weird, almost like a sticker about to peel. Tried to gently scratch at the edge with my nail. Big mistake. Felt like it might lift! Real ones are way more durable, like heat-pressed and feels part of the fabric.
Getting worried now. Looked at the tags. Pulled them out properly. The little holographic sticker thingy? Supposed to look shiny and clear with the Nike logo. Mine looked kinda dull, blurry. Like a cheap photocopy. Real ones are sharp and bright. Then checked the care label – the writing looked fuzzy, a bit smudged. Material code didn’t seem to match anything official I found online after digging.
Final thing was the feel of the fabric itself. Put it on. Felt… stiff. Heavy almost. Didn’t breathe right. Compare it to an authentic Nike jersey – those Dri-FIT ones feel super light, airy, like you’re not wearing much. This felt thick and cheap, like rough polyester. Sweated buckets just standing there! Also, the fit was weird. Bit baggy in places, tight in others. Real football shirts fit pretty true.
Put it all together:
- Rough, messy crest embroidery
- Messy inside stitching, cheap feel
- Plasticky sponsor logo that might peel
- Dull, blurry hologram tag & fuzzy care label
- Heavy, stiff, non-breathable fabric & dodgy fit
Conclusion? Yeah, landed myself a fake. Felt like a right mug afterwards. Lesson learned hard. Won’t be trusting dodgy online deals again. If the price is too good, it almost always is. Now this useless shirt just sits in the back of the drawer. Waste of money and time. Do yourself a favor and just buy legit next time. Save yourself this hassle!