Cavani to give up the No 7 jersey and the 'Special' rule that will see Cristiano Ronaldo wear the No 7 shirt number at Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo has completed a stunning return to the Theatre of Dreams to play for Manchester United. The 36-year-old forward called time on a 3-year stay in Italy to return to the grounds where he first made his name. United confirmed the signing of the 5-time Ballon d'Or winner on Friday in an initial €13m deal with add-ons of about €8m. 

Since his completed move to United, fans have been curious about which shirt number the ex-Real Madrid player will don for the Red Devils this season. Cristiano Ronaldo is most famous with the No 7 jersey, having worn it for 4 out of his 5 seasons at United, 8 out of his 9 seasons at Real Madrid, and all 3 seasons of his stay at Juventus. In fact, the Portuguese international has built his entire personal brand around the CR7 emblem. 

However, the No 7 jersey at Manchester United is taken this season, having already been assigned to Uruguayan forward, Edison Cavani. Under the Premier League's rules, a player must wear the number he has been registered with for the season unless two things happen. The two cases where the numbers can be changed is if the player leaves the club he was registered at or if the club files for a 'Special Dispensation' from the Premier League board. 

With it being unlikely that Cavani would leave Manchester United this season, having just signed a contract extension himself this summer, the only way Cristiano Ronaldo would wear the No 7 jersey is if Edison Cavani chooses to vacate the No 7 jersey for him. If the Uruguayan is convinced to do this, Manchester United would then have to apply for the 'Special Dispensation' to allow Cristiano Ronaldo to take the No 7 jersey. The Premier League board has never granted this Special Dispensation to any club before now.