The Catalans have decided not to assign the number 10 jersey to any player for the 2021-22 season. For the last 13 years, the number was last donned by Lionel Messi, who joined PSG earlier in August.
The number 10 will remain vacant despite rumors of it being assigned to Philippe Coutinho for the season. Instead, the Blaugrana will reserve the number completely this season unless it is an absolute necessity.
LaLiga rules regarding kit numbers could make the task much more challenging for Barcelona. The league forbids teams from retiring numbers and instead instructs them to assign each member of the first team a character between 1-25.
Therefore, if a team has 25 players in their senior squad, no number can be left unassigned as per the league’s regulations. Meanwhile, reserve or ‘B’ team players can be given numbers ranging between 26-50.
Including Coutinho, Barcelona currently have 25 senior members in their squad. However, the Brazilian is the only senior player yet to be assigned a shirt number for the season. His previous number, 14, has been handed to Rey Manaj, and as per league regulations, the only shirt he can don for the season is the 10 vacated by Messi.
Barcelona, nonetheless, insist that the number not be assigned this season. However, if the club is forced to allocate the iconic shirt for the upcoming term, it would likely award it to a player who came through the academy.
Forward Ansu Fati and defender Oscar Minguez will become prime candidates in such a situation, as the pair are yet to be involved with the senior squad this season. Riqui Puig, Eric Garcia, and Ronald Araujo would’ve been on the shortlist, as well, had they not made the matchday squad for Barcelona’s opening game against Real Sociedad (4-2, August 15).
Ironically, Messi himself won’t get to wear his preferred number 10 this season. He will use the number 30 shirt throughout the campaign since Neymar dons 10 for the Parisians.
