Football

Man Utd striker Wout Weghorst reveals why he chose shirt number 27

Man Utd striker Wout Weghorst reveals why he chose shirt number 27

Man Utd striker Wout Weghorst has revealed why he has opted to wear number 27 for his new club, explaining that he had to ask current incumbent Alex Telles for permission first.

The Netherlands international has joined the Premier League giants after spending the first half of the season on loan from Championship Burnley to Turkish club Besiktas.

Weghorst could be handed his Red Devils debut in the club’s Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace this evening, having watched on from the stands as Man Utd defeated rivals Man City in Saturday’s Manchester Derby.

Erik ten Hag’s side go into the match in joint-fourth place in the table, level on 38 points with Newcastle. A win would take them above both Newcastle and Man City into second.

Man Utd striker reveals shirt number choice

Weghorst has had plenty of different shirt numbers over the years, including number 28 in his first two seasons with Emmen, before a switch to number 9.

He also landed that number at Wolfsburg, AZ Alkmaar and Burnley, while wearing 19 at Heracles Almelo and 10 at Besiktas.

Full-back Telles had been wearing the number 27 shirt for Man Utd, but he has been loaned out to Spanish side Sevilla for the current campaign.

New face Weghorst has now taken over the number, having first asked the defender if it was okay to do so, and has revealed the thinking behind his decision.

“Of course, I looked into the ones that are free or available,” Weghorst told the Man Utd website. “Two and seven will make nine, of course – a striker’s number.

“I had a feeling with it and of course when I came here I heard it was Alex’s number, he got loaned out now.

“So yeah, I first had to ask him if that was okay, so I said to them [United] that was for me important and then in the end there was no problem so thanks to him also. I go for the 27 and actually it’s just because I had a good feeling with it.”

Man Utd

Striker wants to emulate Dutch Man Utd legends

Weghorst will become the 19th player from the Netherlands to line out for Man Utd, following in the footsteps of various club legends, including Robin van Persie, Ruud van Nistlerooy and Jaap Stam.

As a striker, he looked up to the first two names as opposed to rock-hard defender Stam, and recalls when the Netherlands heroes were scoring goals for the Manchester outfit.

Van Nistelrooy is fifth in the club’s all-time scoring charts, netting 150 goals in his 219 appearances.

Van Persie meanwhile bagged 58 goals in his 105 matches for the Red Devils, with both strikers earning legendary status at the Premier League club.

“Yeah, of course, them, for me as a striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie, yeah, of course [I followed them],” said Weghorst.

“[When] I was a younger kid you see these games, these matches, these goals with the combination with the fans in the stadium. They are things that I definitely remember and definitely memories in my head, yes.”


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