Man Utd star Facundo Pellistri reveals ‘special’ Cristiano Ronaldo link to his shirt number

FACUNDO PELLISTRI has lifted the lid on why he wears the No28 shirt for Manchester United.

The winger revealed that he chose the number not initially realising its unexpected link to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Getty

Facundo Pellistri chose the No28 shirt when he signed from Penarol[/caption]

Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo made his senior debut wearing that shirt number[/caption]

Pellistri took the No28 as it was one of the few available when he joined the club in 2020.

But he is now more than happy to keep the jersey despite their being previous opportunities to swap.

Ronaldo has become synonymous with the No7 during his career, wearing it for Portugal, Man Utd, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr.

But the Portuguese legend broke through at Sporting Lisbon as a teenager with the No28 on his back.

Although Pellistri admits he was not aware of that when he picked the same number.

The 22-year-old Uruguayan said: “When I came here to Manchester, I was playing in Penarol and I had the No10.

“So the two plus the eight, they sum up to ten. So that’s why I take it.

“Later, I realised that number was the one Ronaldo also made his debut in.

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“So, for me, that number is very special.”

Pellistri is beginning to forge his way into the United side on a more regular basis after previous years spent out on loan at Deportivo Alaves in Spain.

He has featured 12 times this season but is still waiting for his first goal.