Martial unfollows Man United on social media after club give his no.9 shirt to Ibra

After becoming the most expensive teenager in world football following a £36million deadline day move to Old Trafford last summer, Anthony Martial was handed Manchester United’s coveted no.9 shirt. 

The Frenchman thrived during his first season at the Theatre of Dreams and – as is almost customary with fine, young footballers these days – Martial made his shirt number part of his ‘brand’ on Facebook and Instagram.


However, the 20-year-old is said to be angry with the club after they failed to consult him over their decision to hand the no.9 shirt to new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Martial was given the no.11 shirt instead

The Swede took to Instagram after the club revealed next season’s squad numbers to reveal he ‘chose’ the shirt and Martial responded with a thinly-veiled dig at the club on Facebook.

And the plot thickened today when Martial unfollowed Manchester United on both Twitter and Instagram.

It’s unclear whether Martial or the striker’s team controls his social media accounts but it’s pretty evident that there’s bad taste in his camp over the club’s decision to give his shirt number to Ibrahimovic.

In any case, Martial wears the no.11 shirt for France so perhaps the transition over to a new number isn’t as bumpy as it appears…

MORE: Martial hits back at Man United for giving his No. 9 shirt to Ibrahimovic

Martial wears the no.11 shirt for France