Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford is anticipated to remain with the club and appears to have settled on his squad number for the upcoming season.
Rashford has apparently chosen not to reclaim the jersey number he previously occupied at Old Trafford, with Matheus Cunha currently holding that particular digit. The Brazilian arrived from Wolves twelve months ago wearing the number ten, during a period when Rashford’s long-term prospects at the club appeared highly doubtful.
Roughly twelve months have elapsed since those uncertain times, and signs now point towards Rashford featuring for United in the forthcoming campaign after Barcelona declined to trigger the purchase option embedded in his temporary switch.
He subsequently featured for the first time since December 2024 during Saturday’s pre-season defeat to Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan side. The number nine, which he also sported during his half-season at Villa Park, adorned his jersey for that 29-minute appearance.
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Rashford technically remains unassigned a number but appears destined for the fourteen shirt, which he carried during his Spanish stint. The England international could have petitioned for his former digit back, yet according to reports he has refrained from doing so as a gesture towards Cunha.
The South American enjoyed an impressive inaugural season at United, notching ten goals alongside four assists. The club underwent an attacking revamp with Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Jadon Sancho departing alongside Rashford, while Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko arrived.
Rashford’s considerate gesture should certainly win favour with his fresh colleagues, and the Three Lions forward is already believed to have impressed club hierarchy since returning, taking it upon himself to guide developing talents JJ Gabriel and Shea Lacey.
The engine room has undergone significant transformation this summer, with Casemiro moving on while Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have arrived.
United have prioritised acquiring players from rival Premier League clubs in recent years, with expectations this approach will persist through the remainder of the transfer window. Reports indicate United are near to securing Carlos Baleba from Brighton in a deal valued at approximately £65million.
With a third central midfielder poised to arrive, United may concentrate efforts on securing a new left-back. Lewis Hall has represented their primary objective, though Newcastle have indicated no willingness to sell, prompting interest in Jorge Salinas of Racing Santander and Club Brugge’s Joaquin Seys as potential alternatives.
An additional forward signing had been under contemplation, though solely should Rashford have departed with Crysencio Summerville and Iliman Ndiaye mentioned as possibilities.
However, given Rashford appearing destined to remain, such a scenario seems improbable, with player sales potentially taking precedence with Joshua Zirkzee and Toby Collyer among those who could exit.