Marcus Rashford gets Manchester United inspired tattoo

Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United story has always carried extra weight given his Wythenshawe roots and boyhood support for the club.

His senior debut remains the stuff of local legend, scoring twice against Midtjylland in the Europa League as a late replacement for the injured Anthony Martial, before repeating the trick three days later on his Premier League bow against Arsenal at just 18 years old.

That breakthrough eventually led to Marcus Rashford inheriting the No.10 shirt, a number he wore for seven consecutive seasons having grown up idolising Wayne Rooney, the club’s record scorer and the man who wore it before him.

His departure on loan to Aston Villa last year meant giving that shirt up, with Matheus Cunha handed the No.10 while Rashford was still officially on United’s books but playing elsewhere.

A subsequent loan at Barcelona followed, where he wore the No.14 and helped the Catalan club to LaLiga, the Trofeo Joan Gamper and the Spanish Super Cup.

Now back at Old Trafford after 18 months away, Rashford has marked his reintegration into Michael Carrick’s squad with a new tattoo.

The 28-year-old has been keeping a permanent record of every shirt number he has worn during his senior career, adding a tattoo outline to his chest with each change.

Starting with the No.39 he wore on that debut against Midtjylland over a decade ago, Rashford has also had the Nos 19, 10 and 14 inked onto his body over the years.

His Barcelona number has now been joined by his new United digits, with the No.9 added below the original No.39 following his return.

Rashford also wore the No.9 during his brief six-month loan spell at Villa Park, meaning the number already carried some personal significance before his move back to Manchester.

In taking on the No.9 at Old Trafford, Rashford joins a lineage of United forwards who have worn the shirt before him, including Andy Cole, Mark Hughes, Bryan Robson, George Best and Dennis Law.

He posted photos of the fresh ink alongside his new United shirt on Instagram, writing, “New number, same mission…”

Marcus Rashford made his first appearance back in a United squad since 2024 during pre-season, before featuring for the club again in the Premier League defeat to Hull.

He has since made his first competitive start back at Old Trafford, contributing to United’s 5-2 win over Ipswich as Carrick’s side responded strongly to that opening-day setback.

United face Everton on Sunday, with Rashford expected to continue building match fitness having missed such an extended period of first-team football during his time away.