Antonio Valencia ditches no.7 shirt. Is Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Man Utd?

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Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia has ditched the club’s famous no.7 shirt in favour of no.25.

As recently as Friday night’s match against Sevilla, Valencia was still wearing no.7. But he reverted to his former shirt number for yesterday’s Community Shield and the forthcoming campaign.

The Ecuadorian wore no.25 when he first arrived at Old Trafford from Wigan in 2009. After an impressive start to his for United career he was entrusted with the hallowed no.7 shirt last season.

The move by Sir Alex Ferguson to give Valencia the shirt worn by the likes of George Best, David Beckham, Eric Cantona and Ronaldo was seen as a show of confidence that he could grow to become one of the club’s all-time greats.

But after a disappointing campaign last-term he will revert back to no.25. The dull explanation is that the weight of expectation that comes with the shirt has proven too much for him and he want the freedom he experienced when he first arrived at United.

The theory that is likely to create more of a buzz is that Valencia is freeing up the squad number he’s been keeping warm for Ronaldo the past few seasons.

The CR& brand would be an important part of the marketing side of any move to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.