Antonio Rudiger explains Real Madrid shirt number choice
By Tom Gott
Antonio Rudiger has confirmed he will take the number 22 shirt vacated by Isco at Real Madrid.
The new signing has worn the number 2 shirt ever since his move to Roma in 2015, taking that number at Chelsea and even wearing the 2 on the international stage with Germany.
At Real, however, the 2 shirt belongs to right-back Dani Carvajal, so Rudiger went for the next best thing.
"My favourite number is 2, but that belongs to Carvajal," he said. "They offered me 12 or 22 and I took 22."
Isco had worn the 22 shirt since the 2015/16 season, following in the footsteps of Angel Di Maria and Xabi Alonso and joining a list of wearers which also includes the likes of Francisco Pavon, Bodo Illgner and Alvaro Benito.
Fellow new arrival Aurelien Tchouameni has taken the 18 shirt left behind by Gareth Bale.
"The number 8 is worn by Toni Kroos. When I arrived I asked about the available numbers and I chose number 18 because it is the most similar to number 8, which is the one I have always worn in my clubs and in my national team," the midfielder explained.