Kit numbers hold a special meaning in football, and Barcelona are no stranger to the value of various kit numbers. A club with many fabled numbers that hold storied pasts associated with those numbers, players at the club often ask for special ones that hold deeper meanings for them as individuals.
The number 10 of Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona, and many other legends is just one of the numbers that holds a gloried history at FC Barcelona. Several other numbers have also had numerous legends don them at one point or another.
Similarly, players today are no different to such requests and a particular Barcelona winger has requested the club to be given a particular one that holds a deeper connection for him.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, 26-year-old Brazilian winger Raphinha has requested the number 11 jersey currently adorned at Barcelona by Spanish forward Ferran Torres.
Currently donning the number 22 at Barcelona, Raphinha believes that the number 11 would possibly grant him a boost in confidence as he would be expected to step up a level this season due to Dembele’s departure despite a solid showing from the Brazilian last season as well.
To Raphinha, as per the report, the number holds a special history from his time in the Brazilian National team, where he has become a mainstay of sorts in his own right.
On the other hand, the number reportedly does not exactly hold much meaning for the other Barcelona forward in question, as Ferran Torres would rather much favorably look towards the number 7 shirt being left vacant by Ousmane Dembele following his imminent departure to Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain.
It remains to be seen who ends up receiving the numbers, but in the case that SPORT currently reports it seems like a win-win situation for both Barcelona wingers as they would favourably look upon their new squad numbers if that request is granted.
