Rashford makes Man Utd shirt number decision after Matheus Cunha took No.10

Marcus Rashford will not lobby for the number 10 shirt back after returning to Manchester United. The Red Devils academy graduate has spent the last 18 months away from Old Trafford in loan spells with Aston Villa and Barcelona.

The Spanish giants had the option to sign him permanently but opted not to. With Rashford having failed to find an alternative exit route, it means he has returned to United.

But the forward has been forced to make one subtle change when it comes to his shirt number. Ahead of leaving the club, Rashford had number ten, having claimed the number ahead of the 2018/19 season.

He had previously occupied both 39 and 19. Unfortunately for Rashford, the number 10 has now been claimed by Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha, who was handed the number after completing a big-money move from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer.

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According to The Sun, Rashford will not make a demand for his previous shirt number back out of respect for his teammate. Instead, he is expected to claim 14, the number that he wore during his time with Barcelona.

Rashford sported the number 9 during his pre-season appearance against AC Milan, having also claimed that shirt during his spell with Villa.

Asked about the forward, United boss Michael Carrick said: "He's our player,” before adding: "It is not a unique situation at all and [we] treat him exactly like any other player.

"Football's got different directions. You've got to manage through the states to have a career for 10 or 15 years. It's never going to be smooth sailing.

"But you've got to keep moving forward. If you keep looking back too much, it doesn't do anyone any favours.

"It's been good to have Marcus around this week. He's our player. He's a good player, and he gives us something a little bit different."

Meanwhile, United icon Wayne Rooney has urged Rashford to stay at Old Trafford and play under Carrick. He said: “He’s got a manager who he’s played with, he knows, he respects. He’s from Manchester, he’s a Man Utd fan.

“He’s got the opportunity to restart his Man Utd career. It is crazy that he would want to go anywhere else. Absolutely crazy.

“He’s not that far away from my goalscoring record, so whatever has happened before with previous managers, the club, whatever, he has to just say, ‘I’m a very lucky lad, I’ve got the opportunity to still be here at Man Utd and actually start again.’

“It’s on him, nobody else. He’s got nobody left to blame. He has to take responsibility because if not, the fans will turn on him very quick.”