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Man United squad numbers: Ibrahimovic nine, Paul Pogba six?
Old Trafford reveals its squad numbers, prompting more speculation about a £100m deal for the Juventus star
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will wear the number nine shirt at Manchester United this season, but the announcement of next season's squad numbers has been dominated by the lack of a number six - the number Paul Pogba wears at Juventus.
The decision not to award the number to any of the current squad is a "glaring omission", says the Daily Mirror, and fuels speculation over a £100m deal for the former United trainee, who walked out on the club in 2012.
The six jersey has been unclaimed for almost a year. It was handed to Johnny Evans before the start of last season, but he was then sold to West Brom.
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In England, the number has traditionally been worn by a central defender. United have signed one this summer, but £30m new arrival Eric Bailly has been handed number three, which is usually associated with left-backs.
The decision not to award the number to any of the current squad has got "excited Reds feverishly speculating it is being kept for Paul Pogba", reports the Manchester Evening News.
"The reason for the furore stems from the fact Pogba wore the number six for the majority of his Juventus career," adds the paper, although it goes on to admit the reasoning may be slightly spurious.
Pogba actually wore number ten at Juventus last season "as a signal at how important he had become to the Italian club". But there is no way he could wrest that shirt from current incumbent Wayne Rooney.
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"Pogba wore the number 15 for France at the Euros, and once wrote '+5' after the ten on his Juventus shirt," adds the paper. "However, that wouldn't be an option at Old Trafford as it has been taken by Adnan Januzaj."
United awarding Ibrahimovic the traditional centre-forward's number has prompted a reshuffle.
"The Swedish striker has varied between numbers eight, nine and ten throughout his career but with all three taken upon his arrival at Old Trafford, he was expected to have to settle for different number," says the Daily Mail.
"But Martial has moved to 11 while previous occupant Adnan Januzaj now has 15. Juan Mata keeps number eight and Wayne Rooney remains on number ten."
