Why obscure Premier League rules mean we may not see CR7 at all this season

Manchester United have now officially announced Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-awaited return after 12 years away in one of the most amazing deadline-day deals in history.

They’ve made the social media announcement, released videos of all his goals, he’s even posted a heartwarming message to United fans – and Sir Alex Ferguson, especially – himself.

But one thing is missing – what shirt number he will wear.

There is probably no other playing in the world more synonymous with a number that Ronaldo and the No.7 he first wore at Manchester United.

The brace-faced, spotty teenager, who initially wanted the No.28 he wore at Sporting Lisbon before being told he must wear the famous No.7 by Ferguson, would barely believe how his shirt number has become the biggest individual sporting brand in the world with CR7.

Yet on his grand return to Old Trafford may be without his famous No.7 shirt altogether, thanks to some very strict Premier League rules.

The rulebook states that players must wear the same shirt for the whole season – with Edinson Cavani registered to wear the No.7 shirt and made his first appearance of the season in it against Wolves on the weekend.

Regarding squad numbers, Premier League rule M.4 states: “While he remains with the club a player will retain his shirt number throughout the season for which it was allocated.”

Cavani had reportedly already offered Ronaldo his No.7 shirt back, with Daniel James’ move to Leeds United opening up his preferred number 21 shirt that he wears for Uruguay.

The club will have to apply for special dispensation to reshuffle their shirt numbers for the season now, something which has never been granted in Premier League history.

The Premier League could bend the rules for this one, considering the huge commercial value to the club and to the league itself by having the CR7 brand and all parties involving willing to do it, but the lack of precedent makes it a difficult case.

Oddly, he may be able to wear it in the Champions League, as UEFA competitions have different rules around shirt numbers, like when Henrikh Mkhitaryan wore 77 in Europe and 7 in the league for Arsenal.

But in the Premier League, we may have to get used to CR21 for a little while.

 

 

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