Is Matic any better than Fellaini? Man Utd's £40m man must prove he's not in decline

It is good to inform you guys that Antonio Conte was happy to sell his aging midfield to Manchester United

Since the inception of squad numbers, football has had a strange obsession with the numbers players wear on the backs of their jerseys. Numbers are handed down from player to player, holding a certain prestige, inspiring columns like "the best number 10s of all time" and even books filled with tactical analysis.

Shirt number reveals are even a big thing, with clubs using the announcement as another PR segment in the non-stop world of social media. Alexandre Lacazette took the number nine shirt from Lucas Perez and annoyed his predecessor in the process. 

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The players themselves have a certain connection to certain numbers, and like to keep them from season-to-season, and even when they move to a new club. Nemanja Matic's £40 million transfer from Chelsea to Manchester United did not allow him to retain his favoured 21, with fellow midfielder Ander Herrera already sporting those digits at Old Trafford.

Instead, Matic was revealed as United's new No.31, with Jose Mourinho even referring to him by that in his welcoming interview where the Red Devils boss fawned over the man he managed at Chelsea.

"Nemanja is a Manchester United player and a Jose Mourinho player. He represents everything we want in a footballer; loyalty, consistency, ambition, team player," Mourinho told the club's official website.

"I would like to thank him for his desire to join us because without that, it would be impossible to have him here. I am sure our players and supporters will love him. A big welcome to our new number 31."

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