Mariano Diaz, Madrid’s latest signing, is set to succeed Cristiano Ronaldo and take the No.7 shirt at Real Madrid.
Mariano who signed a five-year contract at Santiago Bernabeu – their first attacking signing since Ronaldo departed for Juventus earlier this summer – will immediately step into the Portuguese’s big shoes, he himself having requested the No.7 shirt.
The number 7 shirt in the club is like a poisoned chalice with the weight of expectations heaved on whoever is wearing it.
That has made Several of the club’s attacking players to decline the opportunity to wear the number, with Ronaldo having enjoyed an incredible spell in the Spanish capital.
Ronaldo is Real’s most successful number 7. The 33-year-old netted a staggering 450 goals in 438 games, with a truckload of trophies to match.
Mariano, meanwhile, has enjoyed an impressive start to his career, scoring 21 goals in 48 games at Lyon, while he was also a fringe member in the Madrid squad that won La Liga and the Champions League in 2016-17.
The 25-year-old was at the verge of joining Sevilla this summer, having agreed terms on the move, but Real hijacked the deal at the last minute.
He will now be presented by to the Madrid faithfuls on Friday, where his new squad number will be confirmed.