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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Dan Marsh

Man City shirt numbers available to Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of transfer with No.7 occupied

Cristiano Ronaldo is on the verge of a stunning return to the Premier League.

The Portuguese icon made his name with Manchester United during a remarkable six-year spell at Old Trafford.

But now Ronaldo is set to cross the divide to the blue side of Manchester - with personal terms on a switch to Manchester City wrapped up.

As City and Juventus attempt to strike a deal on a fee for the 36-year-old, there are question marks over what shirt number Ronaldo will take at the Etihad.

Ronaldo donned the iconic number seven shirt since evolving into a global star - but with that shirt occupied by Raheem Sterling at City, here are a few of the options which could be open to Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo is on the brink of a sensational move to Manchester City ((Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images))

Ronaldo has worn the number nine shirt on occasions for Portugal as well as for a year during his first year at Real Madrid.

However, that shirt is currently occupied for Gabriel Jesus, who has just been nudged out to a wide-attacking role to accommodate Ronaldo.

It's unlikely that Jesus will vacate his shirt number for the hitman as well.

Ronaldo has also worn the number 17 on occasions for Portugal on international duty, but Kevin De Bruyne is the current occupant of that number.

The most likely option for Ronaldo is set to be the number 28.

The Portuguese star could follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, who chose his first-ever shirt number after his shock transfer to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer.

Should Ronaldo agree on a move to Manchester City? Let us know below.

Messi wore the number 30 shirt when first breaking through at the Nou Camp.

During Ronaldo's early years at Sporting Lisbon, the star donned the number 28 as he sparkled for the Portuguese outfit.

It shouldn't be too long before we find out Ronaldo's choice as his transfer to the Etihad nudges closer.

It's been well-documented that Ronaldo was eyeing an escape route from Juventus this summer.

Speculation only intensified after reports that the star had requested not to start their recent Serie A clash with Udinese.

Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, headed to Turin on Thursday to speak with his client, and the meeting with Juventus was reportedly tense.

But tense or not, it seems Ronaldo has got his wish as a move back to the Premier League beckons.

Whether or not this move will tarnish the legacy he'd built up during his spell at Old Trafford remains to be seen.

But it's unlikely United fans will be thrilled about the prospect of Ronaldo joining their 'noisy neighbours'.

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