Will Joshua Zirkzee take up the famous number 9 shirt at Manchester United?

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :July 15, 2024 at 3:33 PM

Modified at :July 15, 2024 at 5:30 PM

Zirkzee became the first summer signing of United.

Manchester United have made their first signing of the current transfer window as they acquired Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee, who will be providing healthy competition to Rasmus Hojlund for the No. 9 spot in the team.

The 23-year-old forward enjoyed an excellent club season with Bologna, leading them to UEFA Champions League qualification and scoring 12 goals in the Serie A. The forward will now play in one of the most demanding leagues in Europe.

However, he certainly will need time to settle in the league. The forward will be crucial for Erik ten Hag as after Anthony Martial left, United needed a backup striker for Hojlund. There is no doubt that the Danish striker will be the preferred option for Ten Hag, but Zirkzee will have his moments.

What number will Joshua Zirkzee don at United?

At Bologna, the youngster inherited No. 9. At Manchester United, there are these numbers available: 3, 4, 9, 13, 19, 26, 27, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 38 and 40. This means the 23-year-old could be wearing the No. 9 which was previously on the back of departed striker Martial.

At United, many famous players have worn the No. 9, including the likes of Andy Cole, Brian McClair, George Best, Eric Cantona and Sir Bobby Charlton.

Meanwhile, Zirkzee is a different striker compared to Hojlund. The Dutchman likes to drop deep and help in the build-up, while Hojlund is more of a box-to-box centre-forward.

The new Red Devils forward wore the No. 21 shirt while he was a member of Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands team at UEFA Euro 2024.

After Zirkzee’s trade to United was confirmed, he stated, “Having had discussions with the manager and the leaders of the club I know how exciting the future is going to be here and I cannot wait to play my part in achieving success for Manchester United.

“I am a player who has always dedicated everything to winning; I’m ready for this next challenge, to go to another level in my career and win more trophies.

“It is a privilege to join such an iconic club. I have to take a short break now after being with the national team, but I’ll be coming back ready to make an impact straight away.”

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.