Sunday 13 July 2014

Luis Suarez handed No.9 shirt at Barcelona

Luis Suarez handed No.9 shirt at Barcelona


Luis Suarez has been allocated the No.9 shirt at Barcelona after his €88 million summer transfer from Liverpool was confirmed on Friday.

The striker wears the number when he is on international duty with Uruguay, but this will be the first time he has taken the shirt at club level since emerging on the world stage.

While at Ajax, Suarez was the No.16 before being given the famous No.7 shirt at Anfield, after joining Liverpool in January 2011.

Replica jerseys with the player’s name and number are already on sale at Camp Nou and the club are expecting a surge of interest from supporters.

Suarez scoops the No.9 shirt which was previously worn by Chile star Alexis Sanchez, who himself has been involved in a big-money move this week, having finalised his €40m transfer to Arsenal.

A star-studded Barca forward line will see Suarez team up with Lionel Messi - who wears No.10 - and Brazil star Neymar (No.11). It is an array of high-profile talent that will have Barca’s marketing department licking their lips in anticipation.

Suarez, who is currently suspended from all football-related activity until the end of October, scored 82 goals in 133 matches in all competitions for Liverpool and will add significant firepower for new coach Luis Enrique when he returns from his four-month ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.

As well as bringing in Suarez, Barca have signed midfielder Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla this summer, as well as two goalkeepers – Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

The Croatian will wear the No.4 shirt vacated by Cesc Fabregas, while shot-stoppers Bravo and Ter Stegen have been allocated No.13 and No.1, respectively.

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