Marcus Rashford appears set to remain part of Manchester United's plans for the upcoming season, with reports suggesting the forward will take up the No.14 shirt following the departure of Benjamin Sesko in a £62.5million transfer that has freed up the No.10.
According to reporting from Fabrizio Romano, Rashford will be handed the No.14 jersey, a number he already wore during his loan spell at Barcelona last season. The shirt had been available at Old Trafford since Christian Eriksen's exit at the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign, and its allocation to Rashford is being read as a signal that he could feature under new head coach Michael Carrick this term.
The development creates an intriguing situation at the club, given the uncertainty that has surrounded Rashford's long-term future following his loan move away last season. He remains contracted to United until the summer of 2028, and unless a transfer offer materializes before the window shuts, it looks increasingly likely he will be back in contention for a place in Carrick's squad.
Carrick himself addressed Rashford's situation after United's pre-season friendly against Paris Saint-Germain, which finished 1-1 in Gothenburg on Saturday. The manager, who has a personal connection with the striker, spoke warmly about their shared history at the club.
"I've played with him. I played in the game he made his debut, so we have a history," Carrick said when asked about Rashford's prospects.
The former United midfielder, now leading the team into a new era, confirmed that Rashford is expected to link up with the rest of the squad imminently as preparations continue ahead of the new campaign.
"We have got a full squad this week in Dublin. We fly straight there and have a few days where we have the whole group back together," Carrick explained.
He went on to specifically name Rashford among the players due to reintegrate with the group, alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez.
"Marcus is part of that, and Kobbie and Lisandro. We look forward to seeing them," Carrick added.
Those comments, combined with the shirt number switch, point toward a genuine opportunity for Rashford to fight for his place under the new coaching setup rather than being immediately shipped out of the club. The forward's stock had fluctuated significantly over recent seasons, with his loan move to Barcelona seen by many as a fresh start away from Old Trafford amid strained relations with the previous management.
How Rashford performs during the upcoming pre-season fixtures and early matches of the new campaign will likely determine whether he can force his way back into a regular starting role. Carrick's willingness to publicly discuss their shared history and express enthusiasm about his return suggests the England international will at least be given a fair chance to prove his worth.
United's trip to Dublin will mark an important juncture in their preparations, with the full first-team squad reuniting for the first time in several weeks. How Rashford is integrated into training and subsequent friendlies will offer the clearest indication yet of his standing within Carrick's plans for the season ahead.
For now, the change of shirt number from 10 to 14 stands as the most tangible evidence that Rashford's Old Trafford journey is not yet over, even as questions about his long-term future at the club persist.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.