We can expect Marcus Rashford to hang on to the No. 19 shirt at Manchester United for many years.
The youngster’s United career got off to a breakneck start about 18 months ago when an unheralded No. 39 scored four goals in his first two senior appearances for the club.
When Jose Mourinho took over from Louis van Gaal in the Old Trafford dugout last summer, he immediately recognised the talent he had at his disposal and wanted to make clear his faith in the teenager’s ability by giving him a squad number that wasn’t quite so indicative of a peripheral player.
Anthony Martial had just been given the No. 11 shirt, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic was predictably handed the No. 9 upon his arrival and Wayne Rooney continued as United’s No. 10 throughout the 2016/17 campaign.
Rashford pulled on the No. 19 jersey he continues to wear and there wasn’t anything random about that selection.
It was a very considered decision from Mourinho who, according to Manchester Evening News, insisted upon that number because he felt it was important that Rashford keep a nine on his back due to the fact that all great goalscorers wear that specific number.
Considering Romelu Lukaku is United’s new No. 9 and expected to be so for several seasons to come, we shouldn’t expect Rashford’s number to change any time soon.
The 19-year-old found the net during the Red Devils’ preseason victory over arch-rivals Manchester City in Houston in the early hours of Friday morning.
Will not play at No. 10 https://t.co/TUxzJQrgJ2
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) July 20, 2017
Prior to the game, Mourinho outlined his plans for where his prodigy would be playing next season.
“I don’t think Marcus is a No. 10,” Mourinho said, via Manchester Evening News. “I don’t think so. I think Marcus is a pure attacking player, he’s not a player with that quality to play between the lines, to assist, to move and create, I don’t think Marcus is that.
“I think he’s an attacking player who can play in a two or one, he can play besides, can play everywhere, he’s a good working way to if you demand a little bit more defensively, he can play together with Lukaku.
“If he can play with Zlatan in the same team he can play with Lukaku, no problem.”
