Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has chosen to trade his No. 16 squad number for the No. 10, on the eve of the new season.
Edin Dzeko was formerly the owner of the No 10 shirt at the Etihad, but, it is widely expected that he will join AS Roma in the coming days, vacating the jersey.
Aguero has worn the No. 16 since arriving at Manchester City and has displayed some fantastic performances in it, most memorably scoring the goal which won the club their first Premier League title in 2012.
Aguero takes the No. 10 jersey at Manchester City
Aguero will now wear the No. 10 shirt formerly belonging to the Roma-bound Edin Dzeko.
“The No. 10 shirt means a lot to me,” he told the club’s official website. “When I arrived at City, Edin had it — he wore it very well, and of course, I respected it.
“That’s why I picked the No. 16. I must admit, I have warmed to it over the past few years and shared many special moments in it but the No. 10 shirt is very special for me.
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“I always felt a connection to it, and even more so now.”
ICYMI: #mcfc‘s 2015/16 squad numbers in full: http://t.co/0p5iZYSBMU pic.twitter.com/nMVIO0OKxD
a Manchester City FC (@MCFC) August 8, 2015
Aguero is arguably the most popular player at Manchester City, and it is likely that many fans will have had his name and number printed on their replica shirts ahead of the new season.
Late change to the squad number might mean that the fans are short changed, having paid A?34 for infants, A?43 for children and A?55 for adults for the shirt as per the official website.
Therefore, as per ESPN FC, fans who bought City’s Aguero 2015-16 shirts from official Man City stores can send them in by Aug. 28 for exchange or a signature.
City said it would donate the No. 16 shirts to a local charity.
City and Aguero kick off the new Premier League campaign on Monday night against West Brom.