PARIS (Reuters) -In Marseille, the only French city with a European Cup to its name, an unexpected fashion trend has emerged - Inter Milan jerseys are flying off the shelves as Olympique de Marseille supporters back the Italian side against their bitter rivals Paris St Germain in Saturday's Champions League final.
Inter shirts have been selling fast in the port city, which celebrated OM's Champions League triumph in 1993.
"It’s crazy, everyone wants the Inter jersey. All year long, there’s no demand, nobody wants this jersey. And now, it’s like the whole city of Marseille has turned Interista. We’re really going to pray for Inter to win," Ismael, a vendor at a major sports shop in Marseille, told French TV channel BFM.
The son of former OM president Bernard Tapie, who led the club to the 1993 title, said he would support Inter as well.
"A true OM supporter can’t be happy if PSG wins the Champions League. For France, it would be good for PSG to win it. But me, I'm supporting Inter Milan. Ask any real OM fan — we’re all fully behind Inter," Laurent Tapie was quoted as saying by French media.
In 2020, OM fans celebrated at the Old Port when PSG lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
French clubs have played in seven European Cup finals, losing six of them between Stade de Reims (2), PSG, St Etienne, Monaco and Marseille.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ed Osmond)
