Having relinquished his No. 7 jersey upon Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival, an Al Nassr star has now opened up about why he gave the shirt number to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
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Prior to Ronaldo's arrival in Saudi Arabia, it was Jaloliddin Masharipov who donned the No. 7 for the Knights of Najd.
It was rumoured that the Uzbekistan international would be forced to leave the club once the football icon was unveiled as Al Nassr's latest blockbuster signing if he did not give up the shirt.
The number has become synonymous with the Portuguese, who has worn it since his first spell at Manchester United, and when he returned to Old Trafford for a second stint in 2021, the 38-year-old got the number from Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani, and now Masharipov is latest to have given it up for Ronaldo.
The 29-year-old Uzbek has now clarified his position on the matter, however.
"When [Cristiano] Ronaldo arrived, many people spread rumours about my departure from the team, all kinds of false news came out," the attacker explained to Sports.ru
"Before Cristiano's arrival, many people asked me, 'Will you give him the No. 7?' How can you not give it?! He is Cristiano Ronaldo!
"Such players should always be respected! After giving my number, many people assumed that I would leave the team. I gave my number without any problem.
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"There was no talk of leaving. Both the club and the coach wanted to see me in the team.
"I have a contract with the team. I only changed my number because Ronaldo came. This guy is one of the two best players in the world. There's no need to talk much."
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