Matheus Cunha Given No.10 at Man United Amid Rashford Exit Talk | OneFootball

Man United’s New No.10: Cunha Arrival Signals Rashford’s Final Curtain

Cunha’s Arrival Redefines Man United’s Attack

Manchester United’s summer has barely begun, but the first tremors of upheaval are already rattling Old Trafford. Matheus Cunha has been handed the club’s iconic No.10 shirt – a number steeped in history, wrapped in prestige, and now, laced with symbolism. For Cunha, it’s a bold statement of intent. For Marcus Rashford, it might be the final nudge toward the exit.

Cunha’s £62.5million arrival from Wolves marked the first marquee signing under Ruben Amorim, the man charged with resurrecting a squad still bruised from last season’s disappointments. And by stepping straight into the No.10 jersey once worn by Wayne Rooney and Sir Bobby Charlton, the Brazilian has made clear his ambition to be more than just another forward. “New in town” he may be, but Cunha is clearly here to make Old Trafford his own.

Rashford’s Decline from Icon to Outcast

The message from Man United was unambiguous. Stripping Rashford of his shirt number wasn’t simply administrative; it was symbolic. The England international – once seen as the future of the club – is now conspicuously absent from Amorim’s plans. Despite initial reports suggesting he would return to preseason training on Monday, he has instead been listed among five players excused from duty as they seek new destinations. Alongside him on the sidelines are Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia, and Antony.

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Rashford’s demotion is a dramatic fall from grace. Just a few seasons ago, he was the poster boy of the Ten Hag era. Now, after a public falling out with Amorim – who reportedly criticised his training ground commitment – Rashford finds himself in footballing purgatory, courted from afar by Barcelona and Bayern Munich but nowhere near a United shirt.

Cunha’s Statement Is More Than Just a Number

It is easy to overstate the importance of shirt numbers, but not at Manchester United. The No.10 is a lineage, a legacy. Cunha’s acceptance of the number suggests Amorim views him not just as a tactical addition but a cornerstone of the new project. The club, it seems, are not tiptoeing into a rebuild; they are tearing up the past to shape a new identity.

The move is not without its risks. Cunha, while talented, arrives with expectation weighing heavy on his shoulders. But that is precisely the point. In giving him the No.10, United are placing faith in transformation – not just of personnel, but of ethos.