MANCHESTER UNITED have confirmed their squad numbers for this season, but it’s fair to say some of the selections have raised a few eyebrows.
Backup goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir, who arrived from Fenerbache for £4.3million on deadline day has been handed the No1 shirt.
Many would have expected Andre Onana to take that jersey, but he prefers the No24 shirt which he wore when he broke through at Ajax.
He says that the shirt has a special meaning to him as it represents his day and month of birth, which is on the second of April.
Fans were also left confused by Rasmus Hojlund being given the No11 shirt this season.
Hojlund, 20, arrived from Atalanta as Manchester United’s top striker target in a £72m deal earlier this window.
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Many would have expected the striker to have been given a more traditional attacking number, but with the club failing to secure a deal for Anthony Martial, the No9 remains taken.
Fans on Twitter expressed their confusion at the numbers, with one writing: “Wow that’s interesting! Our backup goalkeeper is #1 and our no. 9 is no. 11 – make it make sense.”
And a second wrote: “Number 11 is cursed since Giggs.”
And a third wrote: “They gave Hojlund WHAT number?” referring to the supposed curse of the shirt.
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Since Giggs left the club, the shirt has been worn by Adnan Januzaj, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.
But not all were negative about Hojlund’s number, with one saying: “Rasmus will be cooking with that Giggs iconic jersey number.”
In other squad number news, Sergio Reguilon has been handed the No15 shirt after signing for the club on loan from Tottenham.
Meanwhile, Jonny Evans will wear the No35 shirt, seemingly to remind fans of his age.
And there has not been an official announcement on what shirt new signing Sofyan Amrabat will wear, his signature coming too late to be included in the squad against Arsenal today.
The No4 shirt is currently vacant at United so it is likely he will be handed that number, given he uses it on international duty for Morocco.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
