IN SPORT.ES
Barcelona have inscribed Carles Aleña as a first-team player. The midfielder will wear No. 21 moving forward. The promotion comes after Rafinha was ruled out for six months.
The La Masia graduate has already been training with the first team since last season but remained signed to the B team, so he could play for both. That was mainly done so he could gain match fitness after an injury at the end of last season ruled him out at the start of the current campaign.
Aleña takes the No. 21 shirt which was left vacant by Andre Gomes' move to Everton last summer. Other players that have worn the same number in recent years are: Prosinecki (1995-96), Luis Enrique (1996-04), Thuram (2006-08), Hleb (2008-09), Chygrynskiy (2009-10), Adriano (2010-16) and, as mentioned, Gomes (2016-18).
TWO GOALS IN 10 GAMES
Aleña, who scored his first LaLiga goal on Sunday against Villarreal, had previously worn the No. 26 shirt. The kid from Mataro has played 10 times for the first team (five in LaLiga and five in the Copa del Rey) and has scored twice. His first goal came against Hercules in the Copa del Rey, earning a draw in the cup in 2016.