Cristiano Ronaldo will wear Manchester United’s famous No.7 jersey once again after his return to Old Trafford, the Premier League club said.
The 36-year-old Portuguese forward spent six seasons at United between 2003 and 2009, winning eight major trophies, and rejoined them last week from Juventus on a two-year deal.
Ronaldo donned the No.7 shirt during his first stint at the club, following in the footsteps of great United players including George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.
United striker Edinson Cavani, who wore No.7 last season and in the 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, will switch to 21 - the number he wears on international duty for Uruguay.
“I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to have the No.7 shirt again, so I would like to say a huge thank you to Edi for this incredible gesture,” Ronaldo said on United’s Twitter feed.
Ronaldo could make his second debut for the club when they host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday, after the international break.
We are in constant contact with Naby and have had regular communication via his national team management. We are satisfied that he is safe and well cared for.
— Liverpool spokesperson
Liverpool are in touch with authorities to safely bring back midfielder Naby Keita after a military coup in his homeland of Guinea, the club said on Monday.
The 26-year-old was supposed to take part in Guinea’s World Cup qualifier against Morocco in Conakry, when the game was called off after a group of soldiers reportedly ousted president Alpha Conde and later dissolved the government on Sunday.
“We are in constant contact with Naby and have had regular communication via his national team management,” Liverpool said in a statement.
“We are satisfied that he is safe and well cared for. Obviously the situation is fluid and we will maintain regular dialogue with the relevant authorities as we work to get Naby back to Liverpool in a timely and secure manner.”
While the country’s borders have reportedly been closed, the Moroccan team were allowed safe passage home later on Sunday.
Keita started Liverpool’s opening two league games and was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea. Liverpool next face Leeds United on Sunday after the international break.
Meanwhile, Italy coach Roberto Mancini is disappointed how maverick forward Mario Balotelli’s career has tailed off over the past five years.
The 31-year-old now plays for Adana Demirspor, promoted to the Turkish top flight this season, having once been a key figure for title-winning teams in England and Italy, as well as a prominent striker for the Azzurri.
“I worked with Balotelli when he was young and did really well. He was and still is in terms of technique a great player,” Mancini told RAI Sport.
“Clearly, it was disappointing for all of us who knew him as a person and a player that in the last five or six years he was unable to do what he was capable of doing.”
Balotelli broke into the Inter Milan first team under Mancini and went on to win three Serie A titles with the club between 2008 and 2010 before following his coach to English Premier League side Manchester City.
He again played an integral role in his team’s success, setting up Sergio Aguero’s famous winner against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 2011-2012 Premier League season to earn City their first English top-flight title since 1968.
For his country, Balotelli was a firm fixture, finishing joint-top goalscorer at Euro 2012 before leading the line at the 2014 World Cup. He has, however, earned just three caps in the last seven years.
Balotelli clashed with Mancini during a preseason friendly in 2011, with the City coach furious at his striker after he famously tried a back-heel flick when through on goal, while other disciplinary issues remained common place.
“Let’s not forget he is 31 years old, so ought to be at his peak,” Mancini added.
After spending a season on loan at AC Milan in 2015-16, Balotelli left Liverpool, where he had failed to make an impact, and moved to France with Nice before joining Marseille.
Unsuccessful spells with Brescia and Serie B club Monza followed before he made the switch to Turkey in July.
— Reuters
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