Italy Away "World Champions" 2016/17 Jersey – Graziano Pellè – N.9 – Player Issued – Puma – Macedonia vs Italy

Graziano Pellè's Player Issued shirt: a unique piece in the history of the Italian National Team

This Italian National Team jersey is a piece of exceptional and unrepeatable history. It is the Away "World Champions" 2016 version — the special celebratory kit created by Puma to honor the tenth anniversary of the 2006 World Cup victory in Germany, recognizable by its white design with gold details, golden numbers and the FIGC logo in a celebratory version with four stars — prepared for Graziano Pellè with the number 9 and the match detail of the Macedonia–Italy match on October 9, 2016, in Skopje, valid for the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers. The extraordinary peculiarity of this item lies in a precise historical fact: in the days preceding the match, head coach Giampiero Ventura excluded Pellè from the list of players called up for that game, following a disciplinary incident in the previous match against Spain. The jersey had already been prepared in advance with the specific match detail — and was never used by the player it was intended for. A Player Issued that tells a precise football story: prepared for a match, deprived of its protagonist even before being able to enter the field. The internal label indicates size XXL and Made in Turkey, Puma Style No. 749564.

The player: Graziano Pellè

Graziano Pellè (San Cesario di Lecce, July 15, 1985) is one of the most powerful and recognizable Italian strikers of his generation, protagonist of an international career that led him to establish himself in Italy, Holland, England, and China. Tall at 193 cm, a center forward of great physicality and superb technique in offensive movements, he experienced his best years with Southampton in the Premier League, attracting the attention of major European clubs. With the Italian National Team, he was called up and was a protagonist under Antonio Conte during UEFA Euro 2016, where he scored important goals in the Azzurri's journey. In the following cycle, with Giampiero Ventura at the helm, he continued to be part of the Azzurri before a disciplinary incident complicated his relationship with the National Team. His career includes experiences with Napoli, AZ Alkmaar, Feyenoord, Parma, Sampdoria, Southampton, and Shandong Luneng, where he concluded his professional football career. His number 9 jersey, with that story linked to a denied call-up, represents a rare document in Italian National Team memorabilia.

What is a Player Issued shirt?

A Player Issued shirt is a uniform specifically prepared for a particular player but not necessarily worn in an official match. It differs from the commercial version by a series of precise technical characteristics: professional finishes, personalization with the player's name and number, match-grade cut and materials, exclusive technical details reserved for team supply. In this case, the presence of the match detail printed on the chest — with date, location, and abbreviations of the two national teams — certifies the specific destination of the item to a single match, giving this piece exceptional historical and narrative value within the Italian National Team collecting market.

Authenticity and MTM guarantee

MTM Memorabilia is the Italian reference point for discerning collectors of authentic sports memorabilia. Each jersey is selected with rigorous criteria of authenticity, provenance, and quality by our experts. The originality of this item is directly guaranteed by MTM. Every shipment is made with rigid, shock-proof, and moisture-proof packaging to ensure maximum protection during transport. Express courier with delivery within 24/72 hours of payment confirmation, both for Italy and abroad.