Maybe Manchester United fans will be thrilled if they know the reason behind why Raphael Varane finally chose to wear the No.19 jersey.
Raphael Varane actually wants to wear the No.4 shirt at Manchester United. However, Phil Jones apparently refused to give it to the former Real Madrid defender.
Varane then chose to wear the number 19 shirt, so Amad shifted to wearing number 16 ahead of his move on loan.
Varane, the 2018 World Cup winner, understands that No.4 is the traditional jersey number for central defenders.
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However, Jones – who has not played for the Red Devils for almost 19 months – is reluctant to give up the No.4 jersey as Varane’s. Jones himself wore this number when he joined Old Trafford from Blackburn in 2011.
Jones, 29, is under contract until 2023 but has made just two Premier League appearances in the last two years, and has been placed as fifth-choice defender by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Previously, Jose Mourinho had removed the No.5 worn by Marcos Rojo before the 2018 summer transfer window closed in an attempt by the manager to put pressure on the club to buy a new defender.
United themselves almost landed Varane from Lens in 2011 before Real Madrid finally won the hunt, while The Red Devils chose to recruit Jones from Blackburn.
Since squad numbers were permanently assigned in England in 1993, only six United players have worn the No.4 shirt.
Steve Bruce captained the club to win its first double in the 1993/94 season. David May then inherited the number 4 after Bruce left for Birmingham.
Playing just 32 times in his six years at United, his No.4 jersey was then fielded for Juan Sebastian Veron in 2001. Veron’s compatriot Gabriel Heinze then continued No.4 upon his arrival in 2014.
Owen Hargreaves earned No.4 after completing his move from Bayern Munich in 2007, along with Heinze’s departure to Real Madrid.
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