Dani Alves swaps the 22 of Abidal for the 6 of Xavi!

FC Barcelona made their shirt numbers official today, after the official exit of captain Xavi Hernandez to Qatar in order to play for Al-Sadd.

After the possibility that Arda Turan could have taken the number 6, the publication of the shirt numbers has thrown up a surprise.

It will be the Brazil international who will give up his own Blaugrana number, after two seasons wearing the number 22 in tribute to Eric Abidal.

The player explained his motives on social media, "my challenge is to defend a very special number, like 22 was, there are many people who support the career of an athlete, above all on a personal level."

He added, "What is more is the challenge, as is my desire to defend it. Nothing is too big, if people are committed."