More Manchester United squad number upgrades expected, a low-key arrival, Brailsford's influence and coach stays behind
Day three of Samuel Luckhurst’s pre-season tour diary from Los Angeles.
Rasmus Hojlund is United’s new number nine after it was vacated by Anthony Martial, someone who had long outstayed his welcome at the club.
Coincidentally, Martial switched from 11 to 9, as Hojlund has. Martial was the United number nine in his first season but then Zlatan Ibrahimovic took it off him in 2016. Martial reacted to that so badly he changed all of his social media profile pictures to images of him bearing the ‘9’ on his shirt.
Romelu Lukaku then inherited Ibrahimovic’s shirt after his contract expired in 2017. When Lukaku left after two years, it was Martial’s again for five years.
Hojlund’s recognition as the ‘9’ is logical and this correspondent advised the squad number upgrade in a piece earlier this month. It opens up the prospect of Joshua Zirkzee taking the 11. Amad has to be in with a shout, given he is a left-footed winger.
The days when squad number changes ruined kids’ kits are long gone, given the shelf-life of a replica is only a year. The last United home shirt that lasted two years was between 2007-09 when they won two titles and the European Cup.
Robin van Persie declined the option to bump his number up from 20 to nine in 2013 as he didn’t want to inconvenience those who already had ‘Van Persie 20’ on the back of their shirt.
United staff anticipate more squad number changes/upgrades nearer the start of the season. Leny Yoro and Hojlund’s were confirmed on the eve of their involvement in pre-season.