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Gabriel Jesus will wear the number nine shirt for Manchester City next season.

The Brazil star already wears the iconic ‘9’ for his country, but when he signed for the Blues in January 2017 the corresponding number at City was already taken by Nolito.

The Spanish winger left after just one season, so the nine has been vacant for the last two years.

But City wanted to show 22-year-old Jesus their commitment to his future, after transfer speculation this summer.

Jesus has become number two to Sergio Aguero with the Argentina star in brilliant form, but still managed 21 goals in 46 games in all competitions as City swept up a domestic treble.

Pep Guardiola and the City hierarchy have sought to reassure Jesus that he remains central to their plans, and handing him the number nine was part of that.

Jesus has worn the 33 shirt since he joined City for £27million, and he requested that number as he had worn it through the youth ranks and into the first team at Palmeiras.

The number was significant as it is said to be the age at which Jesus Christ died.

But City wanted the young star to take on a shirt worn by club legends like Francis Lee, Neil Young, Niall Quinn and Paul Dickov.

The Blues have not really had an iconic number nine since the 2008 takeover, with the shirt being worn by Valeri Bojinov, Emmanuel Adebayor and Alvaro Negredo as well as Nolito.

Sergio Aguero started with the number 16 before switching to number ten four years ago, while Carlos Tevez was happy with the number 32.

City wanted to change that, ran the idea past Jesus while he was in the Brazil camp at the Copa America, and Jesus readily agreed.