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Liverpool’s latest arrival has selected the No.33 shirt after joining from Barcelona on a season-long loan.
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The defender revealed the number has a special personal meaning linked to his faith and professional debut.
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Liverpool have an option to make the move permanent for around £47 million next summer.
August 11, (THEWILL) — Liverpool’s latest signing has revealed the heartwarming personal reason behind his decision to wear the No.33 shirt at Anfield.
The defender officially completed his move to Liverpool on Monday after the Reds reached an agreement with Barcelona for a season-long loan deal.
Liverpool also have an option to make the transfer permanent for €55 million (£47.14 million) at the end of the campaign.
The 27-year-old arrives at Anfield at a crucial time for manager Andoni Iraola, with the Liverpool boss dealing with a growing injury crisis in defence.
Joe Gomez is expected to miss the beginning of the Premier League season after suffering a muscle injury during pre-season, while Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are also sidelined.
The arrival therefore provides Liverpool with an important defensive reinforcement ahead of the new campaign.
The Uruguay international, who can play both centre-back and right-back, previously wore the No.4 shirt at Barcelona. However, that number is already occupied by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
He will instead wear No.33, a shirt last worn by Jordon Ibe during his time at Liverpool.
While the number might appear unusual at first, the new signing explained that it carries significant personal meaning.
The defender revealed that No.33 was the number he wore when he made his professional debut, making it a special reminder of the beginning of his career.
He also explained that the number has a deeper connection to his faith and relationship with God.
“It’s a number that I like, a number that is special to me”, he said in his first interview with Liverpool’s official media channel.
“Funnily enough, way back when I made my debut as a professional, that was the number I was wearing back then.”
He added that the number also has a personal spiritual significance.
“But it has a personal meaning for me as well, it has a meaning which is all to do with my faith and my relationship with Jesus and God and religion”, he explained.
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The decision was something he discussed with people closest to him before settling on the number.
“It’s a subject I spoke about and had a good conversation about with my friends, my family, my partner and my parents”, he said.
“It’s a number I’m very pleased on a number of levels to be wearing.”
The new arrival is expected to make his unofficial Liverpool debut against Como on August 16 before the Reds begin their Premier League campaign away to Newcastle United on August 23.
After joining one of England’s biggest clubs, the defender admitted he is eager to get started and make an impact at Anfield.
“I can’t wait to get started. I’m very, very happy”, he stated.
“I’m excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I’m excited to meet my teammates, excited to get started playing, and I’m very motivated and really up for getting going.”
His arrival gives Iraola another experienced option at the back as Liverpool prepare for a demanding season.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
