Rashford Returns in No.9 Shirt as Man United Fall 2-4 to AC Milan
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Marcus Rashford marked his return to Manchester United on Saturday by coming off the bench in the 61st minute during a 2-4 friendly loss to AC Milan, ending a 20-month absence from the club . The England international opted to wear the No.9 shirt rather than the widely reported No.14, which he had donned during his loan spell at Barcelona . Manchester United's official social media clarified that the jersey number is merely a temporary pre-season arrangement and has not been officially confirmed for the new campaign . However, sources close to the club suggest that manager Ruben Amorim and his coaching staff were impressed with Rashford's 30-minute performance, potentially opening the door for increased playing time in the upcoming season .
Key Points
- Rashford returned after 20 months away, having spent time on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona
- He came on as a substitute in the 61st minute of the friendly against AC Milan at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo
- The No.9 shirt became available after Danish striker Rasmus Højlund completed a permanent transfer to Napoli
- Rashford previously wore No.9 for England in his debut in May 2016 and during his Villa loan
- Manager Ruben Amorim has shown strong faith in Amad Diallo for the left-wing position
Why It Matters
Rashford's choice of the No.9 shirt—typically reserved for the primary striker—signals his ambition to secure a regular starting spot rather than accept a squad role . With Amorim's preference for Diallo on the left flank and stiff competition from Joshua Zirkzee and Benjamin Šeško through the middle, Rashford faces an uphill battle to become a regular in the first eleven .
Rashford's choice of the No.9 shirt—typically reserved for the primary striker—signals his ambition to secure a regular starting spot rather than accept a squad role . With Amorim's preference for Diallo on the left flank and stiff competition from Joshua Zirkzee and Benjamin Šeško through the middle, Rashford faces an uphill battle to become a regular in the first eleven .