Official: Manchester United unveil Cristiano Ronaldo’s squad number
Premier League giants Manchester United have, on Thursday, confirmed the squad number set to be donned by Cristiano Ronaldo over the next two seasons.
Ronaldo is back
The headline news not only at Old Trafford, but across the globe over the last 48 hours, has of course come in the form of Ronaldo’s Man United return.
On the back of three years on the books of Serie A heavyweights Juventus, CR7 this week made clear his desire to seek out pastures new.
In turn, when Bianconeri boss Max Allegri confirmed his star attacker’s imminent exit during a press conference on Friday afternoon, attentions quickly turned towards where exactly Ronaldo could end up next.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri: “Cristiano Ronaldo told me yesterday that he wants to LEAVE Juventus immediatly. It’s true and confirmed. This is why he wasn’t training today and he’s not available for tomorrow match vs Empoli”. #Ronaldo #Juve pic.twitter.com/Zr3W5tWYcF
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2021
The initial front-runners to strike a deal came in the form of Premier League champions Manchester City, of course on the lookout for a replacement for the departed Sergio Aguero.
However, upon word coming to the fore that the Sky Blues had surprisingly opted to pull the plug on their Ronaldo swoop, it swiftly became clear where the 36-year-old was set to end up.
In turn, just hours later, the announcement which fans across the globe were awaiting was finally forthcoming.
CR7 has opted to take his talents back to Old Trafford, for a 2nd spell with Manchester United:
Welcome , @Cristiano #MUFC | #Ronaldo
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 27, 2021
Cavani’s classy gesture
On the back of his return being made official, however, chatter, for several days now, had since swiftly turned towards which jersey number Ronaldo was set to take up at the Theatre of Dreams.
This came with the Red Devils already boasting a no.7 – the shirt which Ronaldo has of course donned throughout his career – in the form of Edinson Cavani.
Altogether contrasting speculation, as a result, had long spread, surrounding whether or not Cavani would be willing to surrender his iconic number after just a solitary season in Manchester.
Manchester United’s Edinson Cavani celebrates scoring their side’s first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture date: Tuesday May 18, 2021. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/PA Images via Getty Images)
Evidently, however, this has not proven an issue for the Uruguayan.
Taking to the club’s social media platforms this evening, United finally confirmed their latest addition’s new number.
The CR7 legend lives on…
it’s official
7️⃣ @Cristiano#MUFC | #RonaldoReturns
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 2, 2021
Cavani, meanwhile, has opted to take up the no.21 shirt vacated by Dan James, on the back of the wide-man’s long-awaited move to Leeds United.
Cristiano Ronaldo to wear the number 7 shirt @ManUtd. Cavani takes 21.
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) September 2, 2021
