With only six days remaining before the start of the 2024/25 season, Barcelona will face Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium on August 17th. The team is awaiting the official confirmation of the shirt number allocation for the first team. With some new signings yet to be confirmed and the situation of the discarded players still unclear, the club will announce a preliminary list during today’s Gamper Trophy match against Monaco. Currently, Ter Stegen, Gavi, Pedri, Lewandowski, and other key players will retain their previous numbers, while newly signed Olmo will wear No. 20. However, some numbers remain vacant, some of which are quite attractive.
With the future of Cancelo and Felix uncertain, the departures of Marcos Alonso and Romeu, and the promotion of several youth players to the first team, six numbers are still awaiting the final lineup determination. Some changes have already occurred. Yamal will wear No. 19 this season, relinquishing No. 27, inheriting this historic number that has been worn by legendary players like Cruyff, Pizzi, and Messi at Barça. The number initially worn by Roque will change to Marcos Alonso’s No. 17, but he may leave Barcelona on loan or through a transfer. Another assigned number is No. 20, left vacant by Roberto, now taken by Olmo. If Ansu Fati does not leave, he will regain No. 10, while Eric Garcia will continue to wear No. 24, his number from his previous loan spell at Girona.
Besides No. 17, the other vacant numbers include No. 2, No. 12, No. 14, No. 18, and No. 25. No. 2 is typically reserved for the right-back. One option could be 17-year-old Héctor Fort, but he seems set to be registered with the youth team; another option is Alex Valle, a left-back, but he could be converted to the right side. No. 12 has been unused since Braithwaite’s departure, making it a relatively obscure number. The destinations of No. 14 and No. 19, previously worn by Felix and Romeu, are still undecided. No. 25 could be allocated to the third goalkeeper, likely to be Iñaki Peña, or another player.
The allocation of these six numbers depends on the placement of the new signings, the promotion to the first team of Cubasi, Casado, and Pau Victor, and the return of Pablo Torre and the renewal of Mika Faye. It’s not surprising if some veteran players request a change of number for personal preference, which has happened several times in the past.
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