Real Madrid's Brazil star Ronaldo can snap up his favoured number nine shirt at the Spanish giants after Fernando Morientes was loaned out to French side Monaco.

Ronaldo, who fired Brazil to World Cup glory last year as his country's number nine, had had to put up with No 11 at Real following his move from Inter Milan because Morientes was registered in the centre forward's traditional shirt.

The Brazilian superstar, who notched the winner in Saturday's 2-1 win over Real Betis, has an internet site which sells merchandise labelled R9.

England star David Beckham has been a victim of the numbers' game at Real and is

wearing number 23 rather than his 'traditional' seven.

French star Zinedine Zidane wears five - although with France he has inherited former giant Michel Platini's number 10 shirt - because Portugal's Luis Figo wears 10 with Real.

"Ronaldo will wear nine and Javier Portillo will take the number 11," Jorge Valdano told the Onda Cero radio station.

"If anyone has bought a Ronaldo shirt for this season with the old number on it we'll change it for free."