For the first time since December 2024, Marcus Rashford has been named in Manchester United’s matchday squad, but on this occasion he is set to wear a different shirt number.
The 28-year-old spent the past year and a half out on loan with Aston Villa and Barcelona after falling out of Ruben Amorim’s plans.
However, after Barcelona decided not to make his move permanent in June, Rashford has now linked up with Manchester United again following his return from his post-World Cup squad duties, and in an unusual twist, his first outing back could come against an AC Milan side managed by Amorim himself.
When Rashford broke into the senior side during the 2015/16 campaign, he notably wore the No.39 shirt. He then switched to No.19 for the following two seasons before being handed the No.10 jersey in 2018, underlining how important he had become to the team.
But during the England forward’s absence, Matheus Cunha took over as United’s No.10, prompting supporters to question which squad number Rashford would be assigned for the new season.
Manchester United are facing AC Milan in Poland in their final pre-season friendly. Before the match, the club announced the matchday squad and revealed that Rashford had been listed with the No.9 shirt.
That choice immediately caught the attention of fans, many of whom began to wonder what it could mean for the club’s transfer plans. United, though, moved quickly to explain that the squad numbers being used are only provisional, with the final list to be confirmed ahead of next week’s opening Premier League fixture against Hull City.
In recent weeks, reports have suggested that Benjamin Sesko, who wore No.30 during his first season at the club, is expected to take over the No.9 shirt.
The Slovenia international would appear the most natural fit for that number given his role as Manchester United’s main target man and first-choice striker.
But with the 23-year-old still sidelined through injury, it is not yet known whether he will in fact take the number most recently worn by Rasmus Hojlund or remain with No.30. Rashford, meanwhile, has been tipped to switch to the No.14 shirt.
A definite answer is expected only next weekend, when the club formally confirm their official squad numbers.
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