Oh players absolutely prefer numbers. Well, great players, their identity is connected to them. Its not so long ago we managed to make Martial unhapp when we gave Zlatan his number 9. In a lot of instances the number dictates your role in the club hierarchy.
Van Persie #20 was majestic branding
Yes both medicals passed, down to imagerights now.
That’s actually worrying if it’s dragged on this long
He’s signed his contract. He is a Manchester United player, so I doubt we will let image rights scupper this deal, and he has no club to return to. He is nothing to do with Madrid anymore.
First of all, that's just wrong. Several of the players you mention have worn single-digit numbers in their stay at United.
What was just wrong? That those players wore those numbers at the points in their careers at United that I specifically mentioned in my post?
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/roy-keane/rueckennummern/spieler/3396
Didn't Fergie take #9 off Brian McClair and give it to Andy Cole? He must have been at the club close to 10 years at that point.
And that’s part of the problem, the club should have never allowed average player to be here for 10 years, to start with.
I agree we should've moved him on years ago but that isn't Jones' fault and he shouldn't be punished for it. He's just had rotten luck with injuries and Ole can sympathise with him because his own career was ruined due to injuries. His contract is up next year I'm sure we'll be letting him go on a free as he as zero value but until then Ole is going to give him every chance to rehab and get fit.
Ronaldo was number 28 at Sporting before he joined us
He did, Cole previously wore 17, Was handed the 9 at the start of 96/97 season.
McClair average?????
Wow.
Yes but 28 divides by 4, which happens to be the number of FIFA Club World Cups he has. Checkmate factchecker.
If we go back a bit further, Robbo had been switched to 12 from 7 when Cantona came in.
There were no squad numbers back then. They only came in at the start of the Premier League and Cantona was the first #7.
.Daniel JamesI actually would have liked 21 (I think it's not taken?) for 2+1 and also for 21
I knew I was missing something but I think I just made my biggest insult to James as of today subconsciously and that's saying something.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/man-utd-varane-number-jones-24761184
Any time Keane didn’t wear 16 in those seasons was because the club was playing in competitions that didn’t have squad numbers, and the starting XI had to be 1-11. He couldn’t wear 16 and start the game. Vidic wore 4 in the 07/08 season against City when the starting XI wore 1-11 due to special dispensation from the Premier League for the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster, so again couldn’t wear 15 and start the match. So for neither player you mentioned were those numbers their squad numbers, they just had to wear them for certain matches.
It's the Daily Star.
That's why that number looked oddly familiar on him
Yep. It’s true. Phil stole all the number 4s from the megastore too, to ensure that Varane couldn’t have the number
Nope, you are mistaken. Phil said Rafa could have the 4 but we’re out of stock. Newcastle have stolen all the 4’s and put them on the front of there home shirt.
As far as I remember, McClair gave the number away, as he was coming to the end of his career. He had a good sense of humour and wanted to wear the number 13, possibly our first outfield player to ever wear it.
Fair enough. Which is also why I said "if it is true", but it is weird player of Varane's status woudln't get #4, right?
Messi has just taken the number 30, and he’s pretty decent like.
