Cristiano Ronaldo’s whole brand is built around the No. 7 so it came as no surprise that he was able to continue with his preferred shirt number after arriving at Juventus.
“I’m glad I can continue with the No. 7,” Ronaldo said after his unexpected move from Real Madrid over the summer.
In order to continue his association with the No. 7, Ronaldo had to speak to the previous holder of that shirt number at Juve, Juan Cuadrado.
Cuadrado had held the No. 7 ever since he began his second loan spell with the Old Lady in 2016 and he kept a hold of it when his deal was made permanent last year.
But he has been forced to revert to his No. 16 upon Ronaldo’s £99 million arrival in Serie A and, apparently, the Colombian winger had no issue with the switch.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlGYvuLF_sA/?hl=en&taken-by=cuadrado
“It’s my favourite number and I spoke with the club at the beginning about it,” Ronaldo told DAZN. “And of course IÂ spoke with Cuardrado because he was No. 7.
“He said it was no problem and it will be a pleasure to give you No. 7, my shirt. So I’m surprised in a good way as the club helped me and of course Cuadrado accepted it well.”
Real Madrid remain without a No. 7 since Ronaldo’s departure and after passing over Marco Asensio and Vinicius ahead of the La Liga season opener, it looks likely that the La Liga giants will reserve that squad number, which was previously held by Raul, for a high profile signing.
