Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has joined PSG on a free transfer from AC Milan and will play under the No.50 shirt. The 22-year-old was not free to choose his favorite shirt number at Paris Saint-Germain.
The Italian Euro 2020 winner has signed a five-year contract with the French giants, joining Gini Wijnaldum, Sergio Ramos, and Achraf Hakimi. Since his debut with Milan as a 16-year-old Donnarumma wore the No.99 in between the sticks because it was the year he was born.
However, Donnarumma was banned from No.99 at Parc des Princes as Ligue 1 rules prohibit goalkeepers from wearing such a number. It is noted that Mario Balotelli was also famously barred from wearing No.45 in Nice and Marseille.
The numbers one, sixteen, and thirty are specifically reserved for goalkeepers, but in this case, they are occupied by Keylor Navas, Sergio Rico, and Alexandre Letellier. According to Footy Headlines, No.40 and No.50 are the last resorts, and it appears that a special reprieve has been granted to them.
As per a rough translation from Balls.ie, the LFP rule #670 reads: “Every Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 club must establish the number assignment list on Isyfoot 72 hours before the start of the competition.”
“This list can not exceed 30 names, the number 30 is the last in the list may be supplemented and updated with every movement in the club. If a club justifies employ over 30 professional players under contract, the board may grant an exception to the preceding paragraph. Whimsical dials are prohibited (example: 45 – 82).”
“The numbers 1, 16 and 30 are exclusively and necessarily reserved for goalkeepers. Ultimately, the number 40 can be assigned. All teams must have a jersey with the number 33 that is not assigned to a player and reserved for breaking replacements. A directory is established early in the season and available to referees and delegates by the LFP.”
