Romelu Lukaku says he will wear No 9 for Manchester United as the striker reveals he asked Zlatan Ibrahimovic's permission before claiming the shirt

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Romelu Lukaku has revealed that he asked permission from Zlatan Ibrahimovic before taking the No 9 shirt at Manchester United.

Lukaku was expected to keep the No 10 shirt he wore at Everton following his £75million transfer to Old Trafford after Wayne Rooney vacated that number and moved in the opposite direction.

But the 24-year-old Belgium striker wanted No 9 and approached Ibrahimovic, another client of agent Mino Raiola, for his blessing.

Romelu Lukaku has revealed he will be wearing the No 9 shirt at Manchester United

Lukaku was given a glamorous unveiling as a United player on Monday in Los Angeles

Ibrahimovic took the number off Anthony Martial when he joined United as a free agent last summer, scoring 28 goals in all competitions before a knee injury in April cut short his season and robbed him of a second year at Old Trafford.

In an interview with ESPN FC, Lukaku said: ‘I always asked my mother what number, and I used to play with the 10 because my mother’s birthday is on the 10th of October, so it’s the 10th month of the year. That’s why I played with No. 10.

‘I asked for the No 9 because I’m a striker. Strikers play with No 9. It’s a nice number, and I asked the permission of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 

'I want to thank him, as well, for allowing me to wear that number.’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic wore the No 9 shirt in his single season at the club before being released

United announced their latest signing in Los Angeles, with Lukaku signing a five-year deal at the club worth in the region of £200,000 a week.

Lukaku had spent his holiday in America and joined up with his new team-mates after United arrived in Los Angeles for the start of their pre-season tour.

The Belgium international trained for the first time with United on Monday. 

Former United captain Wayne Rooney and Lukaku have swapped clubs in the last 48 hours