Despite Manchester United's advancement in the Premier League standings this season, Solskjaer's side failed to finish the season on a desirable note, with the UEFA Cup final defeat to Villarreal ending the season on a losing note. The Manchester Evening News in the UK claims that Bruno Fernandes, the centerpiece of the team, may have decided to change his fate by changing his number.
After joining Manchester United, Fernandez wore the number 18 shirt worn by Scholes and Ashley Young. Wearing this number, he put in great individual performances and was the team's top scorer and assist leader this season, scoring 28 goals. However, the team failed to win any team honors, and for the second year in a row, the team failed to win all four of its matches.
After the season, Spanish veteran Mata's contract is set to expire and it is unclear whether he will be able to extend his contract with the salon. I still think I can play good soccer, contribute a lot to the team and play for many more years like today, that's my mentality. I'm still eager to play a few more years of soccer, and the salon knows that, so let's see how it turns out. Mata said after his late Premier League breakthrough win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
If he stays at United, Mata will definitely be on the bench, and with Solskjaer's level of rotation, he won't have many moments to play. Want to play the main words, perhaps only transfer to the slower pace of La Liga or Serie A league. Mata has been wearing No. 8 since joining the club in 2014, and if he leaves, Fernandez may choose to change to this number.
Fernandes has been wearing the No. 8 kit since his Sporting Portugal days, thus earning him the nickname Lampard in the Portuguese Super League. And, with B Fay's outstanding connection with Mata, he could also pay tribute to the seven-year veteran of Manchester United in this way.
Professional players don't usually change their shirt numbers easily, but a change of number in the Manchester United squad arises regularly. Rashford wore No. 39 when he debuted, then switched to No. 19, and finally got the No. 10 left by Wayne Rooney and Ibe; Mason Greenwood was first No. 54, then switched to No. 26, and became No. 11 this season; Martial got No. 9 when he joined the team, and then had it taken away from him by Ibe, and then two years ago Solskjaer reintroduced No. 9 back to his jersey.
Another player in the United squad may also want the number 8, Brazilian back Fred, now wearing the number 17, was also a player who wore the number 8 in the Shakhtar Donetsk Miners era. He was reelected to the Brazilian squad on the strength of his excellent play for United. If Mata returns to the team and Fernandes has no intention of picking No. 8, Fred might also consider picking the back number.
Fernandez, who captained United in the UEFA Cup final, played a very depressing game and was in tears after the match over the defeat. And a video from the players' tunnel shows him complaining about a VAR decision during the halftime break, as well as resenting the wasted moments of the opposition's Juan Foyth, who is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
The opposing number 8 (Foyt) lay down twice! Once when he hit his nose and he was on the ground for a full minute, and another time after they scored. Fernandez complained to United teammate De Gea that there was another time you waited for VAR, did it take 3 minutes?
After the half-time break, Manchester United managed to equalize the score, but regretted that they could not score another goal, and were eventually dragged into a penalty shootout defeat. In the video, Fred, who was on the bench, looked more active, and despite not being able to start, he loudly encouraged his teammates, shoppers, go on, shoppers, come on! Scott (McTominay), protect the second point, it's very important, watch out. Rashford, come on little buddy. Eddie (Cavani) Charge! We don't have to play so x slow!
