Football
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Leonardo Bonucci explains Franck Kessie shirt switch

AC Milan's new summer signing Leonardo Bonucci has described how he asked Franck Kessie if he could wear his number 19 shirt at his new club.

Kessie only received the number in June when he was signed by the Rossoneri from Atalanta, but Bonucci, who has had a long-term attachment to the number 19, was compelled to ask the Ivorian to switch.

"I went on tiptoes, I talked to Kessie, and we agreed," Bonucci explained on social networking site Weibo, as reported by Football Italia.

"I thank him, he's a smart and sensitive lad, he's a great investment for this club.

"For me 19 is an important number, I relied on it in difficult moments in my personal life and my career, so thank you again."

Bonucci wore the number 19 at Juventus after taking it from Christian Molinaro following his arrival from Bari in 2010, and also wore the number while on international duty with Italy at the European Championships of 2012 and 2016, and the World Cup in 2014.

"The fans' warmth has given me so much enthusiasm," he added, after completing his €42 million (£37.3 million) move from Juve earlier this week. "I hope to give them a lot of victories down the years. Milan deserve to do better in Italy and Europe."

Juve CEO Marco Fassone also praised Kessie after he stepped aside to allow Bonucci to take the number 19 shirt, and thanked him on behalf of the club.

The 20-year-old will now wear the number 79 shirt at Milan, according to Gazzetta.

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