Manchester United’s squad numbers announcement for the upcoming season has been published, and we can tell you it’s quite revealing.
Gone are the days football purists yearn for when a team would line up in the traditional 1-11 every week.
Now, with anything between 1 and 99 allowed, squad numbers tell us so much about how a manager views his squad.
In a world where modern footballers are often accused of being quite detached from fans, squad numbers can also offer an insight into what Premier League stars are really like.
So, what do the updated shirts tell us about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side? Let’s take a look.
Donny van de Beek is a class act –
Manchester United announced the signing of Donny van de Beek on Wednesday and revealed that he will be wearing the number 34 at Old Trafford.
The decision was made in tribute to former Ajax team-mate Abdelhak Nouri, who collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrhythmia attack during a pre-season game in 2017.
It’s a touch of class from the Dutchman. With his hardworking style and efficiency in front of goal, expect him to become a fan favourite in no time.
Mason Greenwood is going to be a first team player –
Despite being just 18 years of age, Mason Greenwood announced himself as one of Europe’s hottest prospects with 18 goals and five assists last season.
The youngster’s impressive form has seen him rewarded with the iconic number 11 shirt. This signals Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s intent to use the academy graduate as a first team player next seasonon.
The number has been worn by club legends like Ryan Giggs, George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton in the past. United will be hoping Greenwood can follow in their footsteps.
The Jadon Sancho deal is still on –
While the historical 11 has now been taken up, one iconic jersey still remains free at Old Trafford. The number 7 shirt.
Could this mean that Manchester United are saving it for Jadon Sancho next season? Transfer speculation has gone quiet in recent weeks, with the club reportedly unwilling to meet Borussia Dortmund’s £100m asking price.
But this move would seem to suggest that United are still confident of bringing in the England international.
Youngsters will play a big part at Manchester United –
Another player who has received an upgrade on his squad number is 20 year-old Brandon Williams. He will now wear the number 33 shirt after turning out in 53 last season.
Reports suggest that young signings Marc Jurado and Alvaro Fernandez will also be given squad numbers for the upcoming season, despite being just 16 and 17 respectively.
This is testament to Solskjaer’s commitment to bringing through young players. The policy was a staple under Sir Alex Ferguson but had become less common under Jose Mourinho.