João Cancelo Replaces Raheem Sterling As The New No 7 For Manchester Metropolis

Raheem Sterling, who formally wore the quantity seven shirt on the Etihad Stadium, accomplished a £47.5 million switch to Chelsea on Wednesday, ending a seven-year keep on the Etihad Stadium.

The 27 year-old made 339 appearances and gained 11 trophies, together with 4 Premier League titles on the membership.

Sterling strikes to Stamford Bridge having performed an integral position within the Sky Blues’ success underneath Pep Guardiola, nevertheless new footage counsel that Englishman’s squad quantity has been rapidly inherited by one other member of the Metropolis first-team squad.

Joao Cancelo, who has made 128 appearances since his transfer from Italy in 2019, has been pictured in pre-season coaching sporting clothes which included the quantity seven.

The total-back had beforehand worn the quantity 27 shirt for Manchester Metropolis, however seems set to turn into the Blues’ new quantity seven, primarily based off of Thursday coaching footage.

The 28 year-old was straight concerned in 13 targets for the Premier League Champions over the last marketing campaign, and has held the squad quantity seven at two of his earlier golf equipment.

Cancelo wore the quantity seven shirt throughout his time in La Liga and Serie A – sporting seven for Valencia and Inter Milan.

The Portugal worldwide turns into the newest Metropolis participant to put on quantity seven, after Raheem Sterling, James Milner and Stephen Eire.

Fan favorite Georgi Kinkladze additionally used to put on the quantity seven.

Squad numbers have been a scorching matter surrounding Metropolis supporters this summer time.

Marquee summer time signing Erling Haaland has inherited the quantity 9, whereas Kalvin Phillips is the Blues’ new quantity 4 – the primary holder of the quantity since Vincent Kompany left the membership.

In the meantime, Julian Alvarez chosen the quantity 19 and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega turn into quantity 18.

The Sky Blues start their Premier League title defence away to West Ham United on the London Stadium subsequent month.

Earlier than dealing with the Hammers, Metropolis face Membership America and Bayern Munich in pre-season friendlies, and Liverpool within the FA Neighborhood Defend.

Guardiola’s squad are scheduled to journey to the US on Saturday eleventh July, with participation in upcoming friendlies more likely to verify Joao Cancelo’s change from 27 to seven.