Arsenal flop Shkodran Mustafi at centre of shirt number gaffe at new club

Arsenal flop Shkodran Mustafi signed for Levante this summer after a brief stint with Schalke, but his spell with the Spanish club has already got off to a nightmare start

Former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has got his Levante career off to a nightmare start before even kicking a ball for the club.

Mustafi, who failed to impress in four-and-a-half years with the Gunners before terminating his contract earlier this year, joined Levante on a free transfer in the summer after a brief stint at Schalke.

The centre-back will be hoping to find his top form again in Spain, where he previously enjoyed the successful spell with Valencia which convinced Arsenal to sign him.

Yet according to Marca, his Levante career has already started in farcical fashion - as the club have botched his squad registration details.

It is believed Levante chiefs have broken two rules by handing Mustafi the No.13 shirt at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.

Firstly, La Liga rules reportedly state that only reserve goalkeepers are permitted to wear the number, with no outfield player allowed to take it.

Teams are also blocked from changing a player's number once the season has started.

Arsenal fans, what did you make of Shkodran Mustafi in his time at the club? Let us know in the comments section below.

Goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez has already worn the No.13 shirt for Levante this term, donning it in two La Liga matches for Paco Lopez's side.

However, following the release of shot-stopper Koke, Fernandez has now taken the No.1 shirt and left No.13 free.

Levante decided to hand Mustafi the vacant number, but that appears to have been a blunder on their part.

The Valencia-based outfit reportedly believe they are not in the wrong and have complied with La Liga rules.

Mustafi has not made the greatest impression since joining Levante, providing a worrying assessment of his own ability after signing for the club.

He said at his unveiling: "I was talking to the club for a long time. From the first moment, I liked the idea of playing for Levante.

"I can bring experience and I am a hard worker. I don’t have that much talent, I will work hard and leave everything on the field and be to the max.

"We are going to give everything to take the club as high as possible."