Nicklas Bendtner Wants You to Wear His Jersey

By: Daryl | August 12th, 2009

Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner has changed his squad number from 26 to 52, and offered full refunds out of his own pocket to any Arsenal fan who’s paid for a Bendtner #26 shirt this summer. Here’s what he told the club website:

“I chose to move to 52 because it’s a special number to me personally, and I hope that it brings me good luck for the new season.

“I appreciate that a good number of fans have bought their kits for 2009/10 already with names and numbers printed up so I’d like to personally cover the cost of replacing anyone’s shirt that has my previous number. It means a lot to see supporters wearing your name and number, and I want to ensure people aren’t inconvenienced by the change.”

I can’t decide whether this is selfless or selfish. Is Bendtner genuinely concerned for Gunners fans who’ve squandered cash on an incorrectly numbered shirt? Or is this a PR move designed to increase his popularity? And did any Arsenal fans actually buy a Bendtner shirt anyway?

Let’s give the big Dane the benefit of the doubt, and applaud him for his generosity.

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Category: English Premier League

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Jordan

So how am I suppose to get my money back?

I did in fact buy the second kit with Bendtner's number and name on it and if I can get my money back, I will certainly take it!
yaniv

lol.. not very optimistic lot r u??? i suppose u all expect m. chamakh ie messiah chamakh 4 u, 2 glide down from France n shoot us 2 d top.. :) realistically look at things, aw loves d big n small man combo... bendtner ll b getting a lotta chances this season, n im quite confident jus lyk he doubled his no, hell double his goal tally.. :)
JSP

GT totally agree. I got one and off he went. That is why I won't buy a Fabregas shirt!!
JSP

Are there really people that stupid out there who would buy a Bendtner shirt????? I doubt it!!!
gt

I don't like his idea of changing squad number right before the season begins, but kudos to him for offering a refund. I hope the club would have done that for Henry's jersey buyer awhile back, after he's sold to Barca.
Martin

Yeah, also, according to the club website, the refund offer is only good if you actually bought it through the club or in one of the club's stores, I believe. Three big questions:

(1) What kind of person buys a Nicklas Bendtner jersey?
(2) What kind of person buys a Nicklas Bendtner jersey from the club's website?
(3) What kind of person buys a Nicklas Bendtner jersey from the club's website AND KEEPS THE RECEIPT?

Over/under on the number of fans who actually get refunds through this? I'll go with .5.
Joel

Would he buy an authentic jersey in exchange for a fake? I smell a money spinner! OH WAIT, we're talking about Bendtner, right? Crap.
Tommy Wong

I'd be worried if he has any amount of fans in Korea or China....his debts could be end up being much steeper than he realizes.