Gianluigi Donnarumma will don his cherished shirt number at Manchester City after being prevented from wearing it during his time at Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian shot-stopper, 26, completed a £27million switch from the French giants on deadline day, penning a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Donnarumma became Pep Guardiola's seventh summer acquisition and second goalkeeper recruit. After his July return, former academy product James Trafford was given the No. 1 shirt. This means Donnarumma will sport the No. 99 jersey for City - though it suits the recent Treble champion perfectly as the number is his favoured choice.
He donned 99 as a youngster progressing through AC Milan's youth system because it matched his birth year, with the number becoming somewhat of his signature as he emerged as one of Italy's premier goalkeepers.
However, following his free transfer to PSG in 2021, Donnarumma couldn't retain his beloved digits due to a peculiar Ligue 1 regulation.
The French top division traditionally demanded all players wear a number between 1 and 30, with 1, 16 and 30 being exclusively reserved for goalkeepers.
Rule #670 of the LFP declared: "Every Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 club must establish the number assignment list on Isyfoot 72 hours before the start of the competition.
"The numbers 1, 16 and 30 are exclusively and necessarily reserved for goalkeepers. Ultimately, the number 40 can be assigned. All teams must have a jersey with number 33 that is not assigned to a player and reserved for breaking replacements. A directory is established early in the season and available to referees and delegates by the LFP."
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This meant Donnarumma was forced to don the No. 1 shirt for Ligue 1 matches, although UEFA's differing regulations permitted PSG to register him wearing his preferred 99 during Champions League fixtures.
The identical regulation stopped Mario Balotelli from sporting his beloved No. 45 jersey at both Nice and Marseille, resulting in him wearing No. 9 instead.
During his inaugural French campaign in 2021/22, Donnarumma ultimately received special dispensation enabling him to sport the No. 50.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, was permitted to wear a number typically reserved for a goalkeeper when he selected No. 30.
However, regulations shifted prior to the 2022/23 season, with the league providing players enhanced flexibility regarding their shirt number selection.
Since that campaign, Ligue 1 players have been permitted to choose any number from two to 99, with No. 1 remaining exclusively reserved for goalkeepers.
Given the Premier League's lenient regulations on numbers, Donnarumma will avoid such complications in the UK.
City will hope the 2021 Euros champion's favoured jersey will boost his confidence between the posts ahead of the Manchester Derby following the international break, where he could make his club debut.