History could be set to repeat itself at Manchester United as Anthony Martial could have his shirt number taken off him once again.
The Frenchman is desperate to leave the club in January or in the summer but, currently under contract until 2024, he might not get his wish.
That means Erling Haaland, who Ralf Rangnick is set to target at the end of the season, could arrive at Old Trafford with Martial still among the ranks.
This could infuriate the winger even further as the Norwegian would likely want the no.9 shirt he wears for club and country.
Martial has been stripped of his number before and it didn't go down well. Zlatan Ibrahimovich took his no.9 shirt when he joined United as Jose Mourinho would hand the Frenchman the number 11 instead.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Where will Erling Haaland end up next summer? Comment below
Martial has since taken the number back following the departure of Romelu Lukaku and would unlikely step aside for Haaland given how much it angered him the first time around.
Patrice Evra said Martial was "really let down" by the decision, which really dented his morale at the time, and reacted badly to the news from Man United.
He told Sky Sports: "I think he had a brilliant start when he played under [Louis] van Gaal. Then I remember one episode, unfortunately, I think they let him really down when they swapped the shirt with Zlatan.
"I remember we were in the national team and he received a call from the club and they say you have to give your No. 9 shirt, and he was like, 'No, absolutely not'.
"But after, Mourinho contacted him to say Zlatan is going to take the No. 9 and you're going to take the No. 11. 'It's not like I'm going to say Martial's been not playing well because of that number shirt, but it started from there."
Initially, Martial rediscovered some form with his old number but has fallen by the wayside once again as he looks to leave Old Trafford.
His agent Philippe Lamboley expressed his client's desire to seek pastures new.
He told Sky Sports: "Anthony wishes to leave the club in January.
"He just needs to play. He doesn't want to stay in January and I will speak to the club soon."
Rangnick insists he has not heard anything from the forward, but has warned that he should tell him directly if he's unhappy, instead of communicating through his agent.
He said: "I don't communicate with agents via the media or the press. The player hasn't spoken with me or with us about it... to be honest, what his agent has said in the media is not that much of interest."
Asked whether he would speak to the forward about his agent's admission, Rangnick added: "No, because then I'd react to what the agent has said.
"It should be the player. If a player wishes to go to another club, it should be the player who informs either the board or myself, whoever.
"I have never spoken to a player via media or agents."
