Who will be Real Madrid’s new number 11?
By Ben Sundock
Gareth Bale is off to Tottenham, so, for the first time in seven years, a new Real Madrid player will be sporting the number 11 on the pitch. Will it be Marco Asensio or Vinicius Junior who wear the coveted number?
Real Madrid will be changing the kit numbers of three of its players for the 2020/2021. That is, the club will change the number of two returning players and finally give a permanent number to Martin Odegaard.
Odegaard will take the number 21 while Brahim Diaz is off on loan with AC Milan while Marco Asensio will take the number 11. Vinicius Junior will also change his kit number for the third time in three seasons with Real Madrid.
When he first joined from Flamengo, he was number 28, last season, he wore 25, and now, he will adopt Asensio’s former number.
It tough to say which will look more out of place. Gareth Bale back in a Tottenham Hotspur uniform in 2020 or Asensio not wearing the number 20. Marco will join some stunning company when he puts on that number for the the first time.
Diego and Marcos Llorente’s father, Paco, wore the number for the club, Liverpool legend Michael Owen wore the number in his only season in Madrid, and Karim Benzema sported the 11 in his first season after signing from Lyon in 2009. The last person before Bale to sport the number was Portuguese center back Ricardo Carvalho.
The other squad number changes that we have seen are Borja Mayoral – who shockingly appears to be staying with Real Madrid for another season – has taken James’ former number, 16, while fullback Alvaro Odriozola has returned to his number 19 that he has worn in the 18 months he has been with Real. He wore the number two while on loan with Bayern for the second half of this last campaign.
If you are a fan who purchased either a new Asensio or Vinicius kit deserves a refund or for the club to correct it.
Let’s hope both Vinicius and Marco can create plenty of memories in their new numbers!