体坛英语资讯：Number 9 Bojan wants to take his chance

FC Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic believes the sale of Zlatan Ibrahimovich to AC Milan will open the door for more first team opportunities this season.

The forward, who only recently celebrated his 20th birthday, has been in the Barcelona first team squad for three seasons. Last season saw him take a big step forward, scoring eight goals in 23 BBVA Primera Liga appearances, but Ibrahimovich's presence limited his chances.

Now with Ibrahimovich back in Italy, Bojan hopes this can be his year, indeed such is his confidence that he will now wear the striker's number 9 shirt during the current campaign.

"I realized that the number 9 was free and said that I would like to wear it. I was really pleased to be able to be able to wear it again, because it is a number that I have worn that I have worn all of my life," he told sports paper El Mundo Deportivo.

Bojan had worn the number 11 shirt in the Barcelona first team, but had carried the 9 on his back all the way through his progress through the club's youth system.

Players such as Ibrahimovich, Samuel Eto'o, Partick Kluivert and Michael Laudrup have all worn the number 9 shirt for Barca, but Bojan is not intimidated by following such illustrious names.

"I don't feel extra responsibility for wearing this number, I have always worn it at Barcelona and I have dreamed of being able to wear it in the first team. I am excited by the prospect and it makes me feel stronger," he insisted.

However, the youngster was at pains to stress that he had enjoyed a good relationship with Ibrahimovich.

"We got on well and he said goodbye when he was leaving," he said.