It’s confirmed now, Manchester United have handed the No.10 shirt to Matheus Cunha, their new signing this summer.
At first, it might just seem like a normal shirt number update. Nothing that grabs too much attention. But at Old Trafford, that number means something. And with Marcus Rashford still technically part of the squad, it’s raised a few eyebrows. Actually, more than a few.
United didn’t waste time getting Cunha in. They went straight to business, triggering his £62.5 million release clause from Wolves as soon as the transfer window opened. But the real noise isn’t about the transfer fee it’s about the number on his back. This isn’t just a squad number. It feels like a statement.
What’s Going On With Rashford?
Let’s not act like this is just business as usual. Rashford’s still on the books, but he hasn’t shown up for pre-season. And no, it’s not due to injury or international duty.
The club gave him extra time off, reportedly to explore a possible move away from Manchester.
That alone says a lot.
Now, with Cunha being given the No.10 shirt before Rashford’s even officially out, it kind of feels like the writing’s on the wall. No farewell message, no goodbye post, nothing. Just a shirt switch that says everything.
A source close to the squad apparently told The Athletic:
“It wasn’t something the club rushed into. But Rashford hasn’t looked himself lately, and they felt it was time to shake things up.”
Whether you agree with that or not is up for debate. But let’s be real, Rashford’s form dropped badly last season. The same player who scored over 30 goals just a season earlier didn’t even look like himself anymore.
You could see his confidence had taken a hit, and it showed every time he was out there his body language just wasn’t right.
And now, there’s a new man in charge which is Ruben Amorim. He doesn’t seem like the type to hang onto players based on memories or sentiment. He’s here to build something new. And if that means moving on from even the homegrown heroes, he’ll do it.
That No.10 Shirt Carries Real Weight
At a lot of clubs, a shirt number is just that a number. But not at United. The No.10 has history. It means something. It’s been worn by some of the biggest names to ever pull on the red shirt.
Quick look back:
Mark Hughes kicked things off with it in the early Premier League days.
David Beckham wore it for a single season before switching to the No.7 we all associate with him.
Teddy Sheringham brought calmness and class in the late ‘90s.
Then came Ruud van Nistelrooy one of the best finishers we’ve seen.
And of course, Wayne Rooney. That shirt was his for a decade goals, grit, and that fire in his belly.
Zlatan rocked it with his trademark swagger.
And then, Rashford took over in 2018—the local lad trying to carry the weight of that legacy.
Now it’s Cunha’s turn to step into that shirt.
He wore No.10 at Wolves, so this isn’t new to him. But wearing it at United? That’s different. There’s more pressure. More eyes on him. More comparisons he never asked for.
He’s not just another attacker now he’s wearing one of the most iconic shirts in world football.
So… Can Cunha Cope With All That Comes With It?
Let’s be straight, Cunha isn’t coming in with the weight of being a Galactico. He’s not being hyped as the next Ronaldo or anything. But he’s also not some bargain signing.
This is a guy who was Wolves’ standout player last season. Quick, brave, sharp in tight spaces, and not afraid to take defenders on. Fourteen goals, seven assists in a mid-table side that wasn’t exactly flying. That’s not bad at all.
His off-the-ball work? Also something United have been missing lately.
But playing for Manchester United? That’s a whole different beast. At Wolves, a miss might get a shrug. At United, it’s a Twitter storm. Headlines. Panic. The pressure is relentless.
Former United striker Louis Saha told Sky Sports:
“Cunha’s got the raw potential, he’s fast, confident, aggressive. But No.10 at United means stepping up. You don’t just play well, you lead the line. You show hunger, you deliver in the big moments. He’ll have to grow into that responsibility.”
Cunha seems to understand that. After the club announced his shirt number, he said in an interview:
“This is huge for me. I know what this number means to the club and the fans. I’ll give it everything, every time I step out there.”
That’s a good start. But talk is just that talk. United fans have heard it all before. They’re not looking for interviews. They want performances. They want goals. They want that shirt to matter again.
Amorim Isn’t Here to Make Friends
This also gives a bit of insight into how Ruben Amorim plans to run things at United. Back when he was at Sporting Lisbon, you could already see what kind of manager he is.
He keeps things simple, doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and just gets straight to the point and not really the type to be emotional or to make decisions based on who’s been at the club the longest.
He doesn’t care about names, he cares about what works.
And this decision proves that.
Giving Cunha the No.10 shirt is Amorim planting his flag in the ground. No one gets by on name alone. If you’re not performing, or not committed, you’re replaceable simple as that.
Some players might not like it. But let’s be honest, United have needed this kind of mentality for a while. Too many times we’ve seen big names get a pass while the team suffers.
And now, fans are noticing the shift.
One Reddit comment on r/reddevils summed it up well:
“Rashy’s always gonna be one of us. But if his head's not here, then it’s time. Cunha might not be a superstar yet, but at least he plays like it matters. I’ll take that all day.”
Rashford’s Legacy: Is This the End?
If this really is the end of Marcus Rashford at Manchester United, it’s a strange one. No goodbye. No tribute video, Just silence and a shirt quietly passed on to someone else.
It’s tough, because Rashford did give United fans some incredible moments. He came up from the academy when the club needed hope. Scored on his debut. Lit up Old Trafford against Arsenal. He also used his voice off the pitch when few players dared to speak up. In many ways, he was the pride of the club.
But football is brutal. Things change fast. And right now, it seems like Rashford and the club are moving in different directions.
There are whispers about PSG. Talk of Juventus. Even Bayern’s name has been thrown around.
He won’t be short of offers. But wherever he goes next, the question will follow him what happened? How did a player with that talent never fully hit his ceiling at the club that believed in him from the start?
The No.10: A Shirt, A Story
Here’s the shirt history again no fluff, just what it means:
Mark Hughes (1993–1995):
He was proper old-school. No messing around. Just a strong, gritty striker who didn’t care how it looked as long as it worked.
You’d see him throw himself into tackles like a defender, hold off two guys at once, and still smash it in. Not flashy at all. But you felt it when he played.
David Beckham (1996–1997):
A lot of people forget he wore the No.10. Just for one season though, then he switched to 7. It never felt like it was really his number.
Beckham was more about whipping crosses in from the wing, not the guy pulling strings through the middle. That season with the No.10 wasn’t really his moment. It just felt like a step before he found where he truly fit. Everyone knows him for the No.7 anyway. That’s when he really became Beckham.
Teddy Sheringham (1997–2001):
Teddy was never about speed. He wasn’t running past defenders or doing tricks. But he just knew where to be. He just focus on the game, you know? Always seemed to be in the right spot, didn’t force things, just kept it simple and smart.
That treble season, he wasn’t the one getting all the attention, but he turned up when the team needed him. Quiet but proper important. He gave that shirt a bit of calm, something different.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001–2006):
Ruud was all about goals. No tricks, no flail, just goals. You’d barely see him for 10 minutes, then bang, he’s scored.
If the ball dropped in the box, you just knew he’d finish it. Probably the most ruthless finisher we had in that shirt.
Wayne Rooney (2007–2017):
Rooney was the No.10. He didn’t just wear it, he played like it mattered to him every single time. Didn’t matter if the team was good or struggling, he showed up.
He scored all kinds of goals. Some were screamers, some were ugly, a few bounced off him and still went in. Headers, volleys, whatever it didn’t matter. If the ball dropped to him, you expected something.
He get fustrated sometimes, no doubt about that. But nobody ever questioned whether he cared. You could just tell, by how he threw himself into everything. You could see it in the way he played. He bled for the badge.
Zlatan Ibrahimović (2017–2018):
Zlatan came in late, but made noise from day one. He came into the dressing room like he has been there for years. Didn’t act like the new guy at all. And once he got on the pitch, same thing straight into it, no hesitation.
He wasn’t here long, but he didn’t waste time either. He Scored when it actually mattered, didn’t hide, didn’t wait around for others to do the job. You could see it in the way he moved like he knew exactly what he was about. The squad felt a bit flat before he came in. He gave them a bit of edge again.
Marcus Rashford (2018–2025):
When they gave Rashford the No.10, it felt big. He came through the academy, so you knew it wasn’t just another number to him. You could tell he took it personal like he really wanted to prove he deserved it.
He came through the academy, it meant something. There were flashes where he looked unstoppable, like that season where he hit 30 goals. But it wasn’t all smooth.
There were moments where things just didn’t click injuries, dips in confidence, outside pressure. He never really hid, though. You could see he carried the weight of it, even when it got heavy.
Matheus Cunha (2025–):
Now Cunha’s got the shirt. He was good at Wolves, no doubt, but this is a different kind of pressure. At United, wearing the No.10 means everyone’s watching your every touch. It’s early days, but now we find out if he’s built for it or not.
Even before all that, United had legends like Denis Law Ballon d’Or winner. George Best. Bobby Charlton. Norman Whiteside.
The number has a history deeper than most realize.
And now Cunha gets his shot. The shirt’s heavy, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe you need to feel the weight before you’re ready to fly.
Are We Seeing a Real Shift?
If you’ve followed United long enough, you’ve seen this before new signings, hype, good vibes… and then it all fizzles out. But this summer feels different. Amorim’s not playing politics.
He’s making decisions fast and not afraid to make bold calls.
Giving Cunha the No.10 right now? That’s not PR fluff. That’s intent.
Maybe Rashford’s story at United is ending. Maybe Cunha’s is just beginning. Either way, change is happening. Real change.
And for once, it looks like the kind United actually needed.
What do you think–was United right to give Cunha the No.10 now? And is Rashford’s time up at Old Trafford? Let us know your take in the comments below.