Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has described Edinson Cavani's decision to give up his No.7 shirt as an "incredible gesture."
Ronaldo, who moved to the top of the men's international goalscoring charts with a late double against the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday evening, sealed a fairytale return to Old Trafford on transfer deadline day, after United agreed a fee with Juventus to re-sign the 36-year-old.
A hot topic concerning the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's return to Old Trafford was the shirt number he would be given, with the Portugal international renowned for wearing the iconic No.7 shirt.
Yet it was thought Ronaldo would not be able to claim his former United shirt number for a second time due to league rules.
However, the Premier League has granted United special dispensation, allowing the new recruit to claim the No.7 shirt, with Cavani switching to the No.21 shirt following the deadline day exit of Daniel James to Leeds.
Now that United have officially confirmed that Ronaldo will wear the No.7 shirt this season, the former Real Madrid man has thanked Cavani for his willingness to give him his preferred shirt number.
"I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to have the number seven shirt again," Ronaldo said, as quoted by Sky Sports. "So I would like to say a huge thank you to Edi (Cavani) for this incredible gesture."
Cavani's decision to give up the No.7 shirt has been made a whole lot easier by the fact that he can now don the No.21 shirt. The striker wears that number while on international duty with Uruguay, meaning both he and Ronaldo have now secured their preferred shirt numbers.
Aside from wearing the No.9 shirt in his first season at Real Madrid, Ronaldo has worn the No.7 shirt throughout his career, highlighting just how much of a meaning it has to him.
He is likely to don it for the first time once again when United lock horns with Newcastle United at Old Trafford next Saturday.
