Real Madrid has recently announced the jersey numbers for the 2023/24 season with several changes. One notable change is that Vinicius Junior will receive the number 7 jersey after Eden Hazard's departure from the team.
The 22-year-old player joined the club from Flamengo in 2018 and has been wearing the number 20 jersey at Santiago Bernabeu for the past four years. However, starting from the upcoming season, Vinicius will switch to the number 7 jersey that Eden Hazard left behind. The Belgian star left the club after terminating his contract one year early.
The number 7 jersey at Real Madrid has become famous with legends such as Emilio Butragueno, Raul Gonzalez, and Cristiano Ronaldo, all of whom Vinicius Jr admires. When Ronaldo left the club in 2018, the jersey was worn by Mariano Diaz before Hazard claimed it in 2019 after joining from Chelsea.
Vinicius Jr was a standout player for Real Madrid last season, scoring 23 goals and providing 21 assists in 55 appearances. Therefore, he fully deserves to wear the iconic number 7 jersey of the White Swan.
Real Madrid has updated the players' new jersey numbers on their official website. Among them, Rodrygo has also switched from number 21 to the vacant number 11 previously worn by Marco Asensio. Rodrygo joined Real Madrid from Santos in 2020 and made 57 appearances in the last season, scoring 19 goals and providing 11 assists.
Before Asensio, Gareth Bale wore the number 11 jersey for 7 years before returning to his former club, Tottenham Hotspur, on loan in the summer of 2020. Upon his return, Bale switched to the number 18 jersey.
It will be intriguing to see which jersey number Jude Bellingham receives once his transfer to Real Madrid is officially confirmed. This could be determined within this week.
The number 9, currently vacant after Karim Benzema's move to Al-Ittihad, is likely to be taken by a striker who will replace Benzema in the starting lineup next season. Real Madrid has not yet decided on the new number 9 they will have for the 2023/24 season.
