‘Marcus Rashford can follow Messi and Yamal tradition immediately at Barcelona’
Marcus Rashford has a major decision to make when he arrives in Barcelona and he may look to follow in Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal’s footsteps.
The England international looks set to be leaving Man United for the second time in his career after spending a season on loan at Aston Villa last term.
Rashford has spent much of the summer angling for a move to Barcelona, and David Ornstein of The Athletic revealed on 19 July that the Catalan giants are now “advancing with a move to sign” the winger.
With a move looking likelier than ever, the English winger now has an important decision to make that may see him go back to his roots.
Marcus Rashford must decide what number to wear
Rashford was stripped of his classic number 10 shirt by United, who have given it to new signing Matheus Cunha.
And with a new home in sight, bringing a temporary end to his time in Manchester for the second time in 2025, the England international now has to choose what number he will wear at the Camp Nou.
Rashford first wore number 39 as an academy graduate, but La Liga rules stipulate that first-team players can only wear a number between one and 25.
At Villa, the 27-year-old wore number nine, but given the legendary Polish striker Robert Lewandowski currently sports that on the back of his shirt, that will not be an option.
10 is also occupied by Yamal, who was announced as the latest star to wear the iconic Barcelona number after Ansu Fati’s move to AS Monaco.
Marcus Rashford to wear number 19 with Barcelona
So if 39, 10, and nine are off the cards for Rashford, the winger may not care as there is one more option on the cards that will definitely appeal.
Following his breakthrough at United, the Carrington graduate changed to number 19 and tore through Premier League teams whilst wearing it.
In his two seasons sporting 19, Rashford scored 26 goals and wore the number for England in the 2018 World Cup squad as the Three Lions made it to the semi-finals.
The 27-year-old is well known to revere his soon-to-be new teammate Yamal, who wore the number last season.
And another iconic player who also adorned those digits for Barcelona was their greatest player of all time, Messi.
A number does not make or break a players’ career, but in the modern age of football where every aspect of a player and their image is scrutinised, it can have the effect of signalling a players’ intent.
If Rashford were to take 19, he would not only be returning to the numerals in which he played with the most liberty and freedom in his career, but also a number which holds significance to Barcelona supporters, and it could be an important decision that quickly endears him to the demanding Blaugrana fanbase.