Rashford Takes Man Utd No9 as Carrick Era Begins
Manchester United have nailed their colours to the mast before a ball is kicked in the new Premier League season. Marcus Rashford is the club’s new No9.
The decision, confirmed ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime opener away to newly-promoted Hull at the MKM Stadium, lands as a blunt message: Rashford is staying at Old Trafford beyond the summer deadline on September 1.
From frozen out to focal point
Twelve months ago, Rashford’s United story looked finished. His old No10 shirt had gone to Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha after his move from Wolves last summer. Rashford, meanwhile, was shipped out on loan to Barcelona following a spell at Aston Villa, exiled by then-manager Ruben Amorim and left without a clear path back.
On Saturday’s matchday programme at Hull, he was initially listed without a squad number. By kick-off, that uncertainty had vanished. The No9, vacated by Rasmus Hojlund after his permanent switch to Napoli earlier in the summer, now belongs to Rashford.
The 28-year-old had already given a hint of what was coming. He wore No9 in Poland last weekend against Amorim’s AC Milan, his first United appearance since December 2024, in a 4-2 defeat at the Wroclaw Stadium in their final pre-season friendly.
A shirt with history – and expectation
At United, the No9 shirt carries weight. Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Radamel Falcao, Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez and Louis Saha have all worn it in the Premier League era. Hojlund was the latest to take on that responsibility before heading to Serie A for good.
There had been talk that Benjamin Sesko might inherit the number this season, but he has chosen to stick with No30. The door opened for Rashford, and United have pushed him straight through it.
New signings have also been locked in: Andrey Santos takes No17, Youri Tielemans No18 and Karl Darlow No12. Behind them, 15-year-old sensation JJ Gabriel is handed No77, while fellow youngster Shea Lacey moves to No31.
Barcelona pass, Rashford stays
Rashford’s return comes after Barcelona decided in June not to trigger their £26m option to make his season-long loan permanent. The Catalan club turned elsewhere, bringing in, among others, his England team-mate Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.
There had previously been a clause in Rashford’s contract allowing any club outside United’s main domestic rivals Liverpool and Manchester City to sign him for £40m, but that provision has now expired. The landscape has shifted. So has the mood.
On wages believed to be around £325,000 a week, Rashford is understood to favour staying at United rather than joining another Premier League side. His focus is on impressing new permanent manager – and former team-mate – Michael Carrick.
Carrick’s backing and Rashford’s response
The noise around Rashford has not just been about transfers. This week, Jamie Carragher publicly pushed back at Gary Neville for again bringing up Rashford on the Stick to Football podcast. Rashford responded on social media with a pointed line: “Thanks, Jamie. It would be great to be able to get my head down and play football without my name being mentioned every day.”
That wish might be optimistic now he wears United’s most scrutinised number, but it underlines where his head is. He wants the football to do the talking.
Asked by TNT Sports about handing Rashford the No9 before the Hull clash, Carrick played down any grand symbolism.
“I don't think that suggests any more than what the situation is,” he said. “We're delighted to have Marcus back. He's looked fit, sharp and in a really good place. He offers us an awful lot so for sure we are delighted to have him.”
Carrick’s reign as permanent manager starts against the Championship play-off winners in front of an expectant away end. Rashford, once cast out and stripped of his old number, now walks back into the spotlight wearing a shirt that screams responsibility.
The question now is simple: can he carry it?
