Defender Yann Bisseck has explained why he’s decided to wear shirt number 31 at Inter Milan next season.
Speaking to InterTV, via FCInterNews, the 22-year-old revealed that his usual shirt number is 4, but that since that number is retired at Inter he has decided to go with 31 as “3+1” brings him to his favourite shirt number.
Bisseck will be an Inter player next season.
The Nerazzurri completed the German’s signing from Aarhus last week.
Bisseck arrives with plenty of quality in the immediate term, and even more in the long term.
Even at just age 22, Bisseck has already achieved plenty within the game. He captained the Germany Under-21 team at the recent Under-21 Euros.
And, he reveals, he has tended to do it with the number 4 on his back.
This represents a bit of a problem at Inter. The number 4 is the former number of iconic former Inter captain and current Vice-President Javier Zanetti.
Therefore, the Nerazzurri have retired that number. However, Bisseck explains, he’s found a solution to still wear his favourite number on his back.
The German will use a similar logic to strikers who have gone with numbers like 81 or 45 to “equal” Number Nine when they’ve been unable to get the shirt number most commonly associated with strikers.
New Arrival Yann Bisseck Explains Why He’s Wearing Number 31 At Inter Milan
Bisseck told InterTV that “I chose number 31 because four is my favourite number, and I’ve played some of my matches wearing that number.”
“But that was the number of Zanetti, one of Inter’s greatest players of all time.”
“So I went with 31 – I think, three plus one equals four, so that’s what I’ll go with,” the 22-year-old elaborated on his choice.
Bisseck said of his arrival at Inter that “We’re working.I’ve gotten a good first impression, everyone has received me well and everyone is very kind.”
He added that “I want to play, but I also have to be very patient because there a lot of top players here.”
