Pranav Nair
Manchester United star Phil Jones refused to hand over his jersey number to Raphael Varane
According to Manchester Evening News (h/t The Mirror), out of favour Manchester United star Phil Jones refused to part ways with his number 4 jersey for new signing Raphael Varane.
The Frenchman became United’s second high profile signing of the summer following his unveiling yesterday. A packed Old Trafford was in attendance as he made his way out onto the pitch ahead of our clash against Leeds United.
Curiously, he was spotted hoisting aloft the number 19 on his shirt and not the number 4. A major reason for this was Jones’s refusal to surrender his number to the new player on the block.
Varane has worn the number 4 jersey at the international level since 2012/13 and won the World Cup in 2018 sporting just that. He originally took up the number 19 kit after he joined Real Madrid in 2011, shifting to a number 2 in 2012 and eventually to number 5 in 2016.
With Victor Lindelof occupying the number 2 and skipper, Harry Maguire sporting number 5, neither would have been on the table for Varane. Given that sporting the number 19 originally at Real proved to be a good omen for him, we hope history repeats itself at Old Trafford.
The fact that Jones refused to surrender his number could hint at him staying put at the club this summer. The Englishman has not made a senior appearance in 18 months and is low down in the pecking order. In fact, despite Axel Tuanzebe leaving on loan, Jones could well be United’s fifth-choice central defender.
On the other hand, Varane’s number 19 jersey was recently worn by Amad Diallo who looks set to leave the club on loan. The youngster has attracted attention from a number of clubs this summer and looks like a real prospect for the future.
More Manchester United News
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expects Jadon Sancho and other attackers to help Bruno Fernandes
- Transfer News: FC Basel and Crystal Palace amongst clubs after Manchester United winger Amad Diallo
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provides update on three Manchester United players set to miss Leeds encounter
The shirt number however does not appear to have diminished Varane’s keenness to make an instant impact at United. The Frenchman is currently training to prove his availability for next week’s clash against Southampton.
