SUPERSTITIOUS ex-Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner switched from wearing No26 to No52… because of advice from his mum’s fortune-teller friend.
The Danish forward, 32, took the No26 shirt at the Emirates in 2007 when he returned from a season-long loan at Birmingham.
A fortune teller who knew Nicklas Bendtner’s mum was the reason behind his switch from No26 to No52 at ArsenalCredit: PA:Press Association
But after two years, 90 appearances and 23 goals, he took on board the suggestion from his mystic confidante.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Bendtner said: “I switched from the No26 jersey to No52 jersey because of a professional fortune-teller my mum knows. Or a clairvoyant, as she calls herself.
“She thinks 26 is a s*** number for me, because 2 + 6 = 8, which is my so-called ‘bad number’.
“She’s found this out… somehow. According to the friend, seven is my lucky number. My strength number.
“Unfortunately, seven is already taken.
“And 25 (2 + 5 = 7) was [Emmanuel] Adebayor’s, which means it’s all tied up with bad karma.
“We settle for 52 in the end.
“When it’s made official, everyone thinks it’s a hint about my new wages: £52,000 a week.”
Bendtner was told No8 was his unlucky number so decided to change from No26Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Nicklas Bendtner’s Arsenal record by season
2005-06 – No33
Games: 3, Goals: 0
2007-08 – No26
Games: 40, Goals: 9
2008-09 – No26
Games: 50, Goals: 14
2009-10 – No52
Games: 31, Goals: 12
2010-11 – No52
Games: 32, Goals: 9
2011-12 – No52
Games: 1, Goals: 0
2013-14 – No23
Games: 14, Goals: 2
After making the switch to No52, Bendtner managed 21 goals in 64 appearances.
He had loans spells at Sunderland and Juventus before returning and forcing his way into the Arsenal team for the 2013-14 campaign, choosing the No23, and found the net twice across his 14 matches.
Bendtner then joined Wolfsburg on a permanent deal in 2014 and took the No3 jersey.
The front man, who is now playing for Danish fourth-tier Tarnby FF’s veterans side, wore No14 at Nottingham Forest, No9 at Rosenborg and No24 at Copenhagen.
Nicklas Bendtner misses countless one-on-ones in first Copenhagen training session since madcap ex-Arsenal striker’s transfer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
