Speculations abound that a potential quarrel between Manchester United players Zlatan Ibrahimović and Anthony Martial could happen after the club allowed the Swede striker to take the young Frenchman's No. 9 shirt for his own next season.
After reports went out that the Red Devils handed Ibrahimović, the self-proclaimed "god of Manchester", Martial's jersey number 9 and gave the 20-year-old the No. 11 shirt as replacement, the Frenchman changed his Facebook profile and cover photos with his no. 9 shirt featured prominently.
A lot of fans and reporters believe that it was an act of defiance and disagreement with the club's decision as changing jersey numbers from 9 to 11 is said to be "interpreted as a slide down the hierarchy at Old Trafford", the Independent noted.
No. 11 was the shirt previously worn by legendary United midfielder Ryan Giggs, who also served as player-assistant coach for David Moyes and assistant for Louis van Gaal before his departure early this month when new manager Jose Mourinho took over the reins.
Last season, the no. 11 was worn by Belgian winger Adnan Januzaj, who now wears the no. 15 jersey.
Metro reported that Martial's beef may have started because the club "failed to inform" him of the jersey number change before it was announced, which he took as a sign of disrespect and favoritism on the part of the club and Mourinho as well.
The report also noted that RMC Sport football chief editor Mohamed Bouhafsi tweeted "Bad taste, tact, consideration from Manchester United who gave the No. 9 to Ibrahimović without an agreement with Martial" with regards to the number change.
Meanwhile, the Sweden national team captain went to his own social media account, which has more than 17 million followers, to brag about his new United jersey.
"I chose the number 9," he said in the caption.
There were also rumors that Ibrahimović initially craved for the no. 10 jersey, but given that is team captain and United pet Wayne Rooney's, the switch was expectedly not allowed. The former PSG striker then claimed that "he always had his eye on the No. 9 jersey" all along, the Mirror said.
Recent reports said that Martial may have already accepted his fate next season as he just re-followed the club's Twitter and Instagram accounts.
