It’s all change at Manchester United this week.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have joined the club to form what is sure to be one of the more dangerous attacking partnerships in the Premier League. If not one of the mouthiest.
We also saw the end of an era as Ryan Giggs departs the club after 29 seasons there as a player and assistant manager.
Truly the new, Jose Mourinho-led era of the club has begun. And rumours are swirling that it might see one more United favourite depart the club in the near future.
Today saw a number of football fans and commenters hear news of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s new shirt number for Manchester United. If you carefully watch the video of his contract signing below, Zlatan takes a moment to ask what shirt number he will have next season.
The sound is low but, take a look at what the Swedish striker mouths at 0.49.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAt4ENXCAQ0
According to a lot of fans, Zlatan says “Eight? That’s quite cool.”
https://twitter.com/utdreport/status/749189542222135296
It is rather exciting. Eight is a popular number at Manchester United, worn by a lot of former heroes including Paul Ince, Nicky Butt and Wayne Rooney when he first joined the club.
Anderson also donned the number 8, but the less said about him the better.
The small issue with Zlatan wearing the number 8 next season is that it’s currently being worn by Juan Mata.
Juan Mata’s history with Jose Mourinho is well documented, with the manager deciding to sell the then two-time Chelsea player of the season to Manchester United in 2013 after viewing him as too slight and lacking in pace for the number 10 position.
With Jose now at Manchester United, many commenters have thought Juan Mata would again be sold for much of the same reasons.
https://twitter.com/JuanMataTouch/status/749240992549789696
The arrival of Mkhitaryan, another playermaker who enjoys playing in the ’10’ only adds to rumours.
Mikhtaryan signing could be bad news for either Mata or Ander Herrera 😐
— Bilal (@bilalm1) July 2, 2016
With some even saying that Juan Mata could soon head to Everton, to team up with Ronald Koeman who has coached him previously in Spain.
I'm more Interested in Everton signing Mata then who the next prime minister of my country is..
— Jase (@Jasee254) July 2, 2016
So does Zlatan’s rumoured number mean Mata is on his way out? We put in a call to the Manchester United Megastore, asked for a shirt with Zlatan’s new number on, and were told that no shirt number has yet been confirmed for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The rumours are just that. Rumours. For now at least.
