Cristiano Ronaldo COULD still wear the No 7 shirt following his Man United return as loophole means Portuguese may be able to take his old jersey from new team-mate Edinson Cavani
- Cristiano Ronaldo could still wear the No 7 shirt for Man United this season
- READ: Manchester United confirm Ronaldo’s sensational return to the club
- The Portuguese made his name at Old Trafford where he wore the No 7 shirt
- However, the shirt is currently occupied by veteran striker Edinson Cavani
- Yet a loophole has opened the door for Ronaldo to reclaim his former shirt
Cristiano Ronaldo could still claim the iconic No 7 shirt at Manchester United after sealing his sensational return to the club on Friday, with a loophole meaning he could still get his treasured shirt back.
After a whirlwind 24 hours in which the 36-year-old appeared set to join arch rivals Man City, Ronaldo has instead returned to Old Trafford with the Red Devils confirming the sensational £21.4million deal on Friday afternoon.
The Portuguese’s Old Trafford return provides a huge boost to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has enjoyed a good summer window having already landed Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane for a combined £115.5million.
Cristiano Ronaldo could still reclaim the No 7 shirt following his return to Manchester United
The Red Devils officially confirmed on Friday afternoon that Ronaldo is returning to the club
Ronaldo made his name in Manchester from 2003 to 2009, scoring 118 goals in 292 games for the Red Devils before sealing a £80m move to Real Madrid.
The Portuguese wore the club’s famous No 7 shirt, the same number worn by club legends such as George Best, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.
And following his return to the club, there is still uncertainty over whether Ronaldo will be handed his old shirt for his second stint at United.
The No 7 shirt is currently occupied by Edinson Cavani, who held onto the number after Sancho’s arrival, with the Englishman having to settle for the No 25 instead.
Ronaldo made his name at Old Trafford and lived up to the famous No 7 shirt for the club
However, his former number is currently occupied by veteran striker Edinson Cavani
However, The Sun reports that a loophole could allow Ronaldo to gain his old shirt once more, as Cavani is yet to make a competitive appearance for United this season.
The Uruguayan was given an extended break this summer by Solskjaer, meaning that he is yet to feature in the first two league games of the season. That means that there is still time for United to give Ronaldo the No 7 if they so desire.
If Cavani retains the shirt, Ronaldo may be tempted to take the vacant No 28 shirt, the number he wore when he started out at Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.
Ronaldo also wore the No 9 shirt when he first moved to Madrid as club legend Raul occupied that shirt at the time. United striker Anthony Martial is the club’s current No 9.
Cavani has yet to make an appearance this season, meaning that Ronaldo could get the No 7
It remains to be seen whether he gets the shirt, after Phil Jones denied Raphael Varane of No 4
Phil Jones reportedly opted not to give up his No 4 shirt for Varane upon his arrival, and it remains to be seen what stance Cavani will take if United make a similar request for Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is understood to have penned a two-year deal worth £480,000-per-week with United and will undergo his medical in Lisbon before the move is complete.
‘Manchester United is delighted to confirm that the club has reached agreement with Juventus for the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa and medical,’ the club said in an official statement.
